Pakistan nominates SAARC Goodwill Ambassador for HIV and AIDS

Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has approved the nomination of Ms. Sharmeen Obaid- Chinoy, Journalist and Documentarion as principal nominee and Mr. Aisam Ul Haq, Tennis player, as alternate nominee, from Pakistan which would be conveyed to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Secretariat for appointment of one of them as SAARC Goodwill Ambassador for HIV and AIDS, local media reported Friday. The approval was granted by the Prime Minister on a summary moved by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the PM office said. The SAARC Secretariat has invited one or two nominations from each member state for appointment as SAARC Goodwill Ambassador for HIV and AIDS. The practice of honorary appointment of SAARC Goodwill Ambassador for HIV and AIDS has been in place since 2008 as part of the work plan for the SAARC regional strategy on HIV/AIDS. The SAARC Council of Ministers confers this honorary title upon leading well-known figures in the region. It may be added that Ms. Shabana Azmi, an Indian actress and social activist, and Mr. Sanath Teran Jayasuriya, Sri Lankan cricketer, have served as SAARC Goodwill Ambassadors for HIV and AIDS for the period 2008 to 2010. Ms. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, is a Journalist and Documentarian and the winner of Oscar Award as well as SAARC Film Festival 2012 for her documentary "Saving Face". Mr. Aisam Ul Haq, is a Tennis player and National Goodwill Ambassador of United Nations Development Programme as well as Youth Ambassador of Pakistan Red Crescent Society.