Archives
Back
VISIT TO CHINIOT CITY – PROVINCE OF PUNJAB
On 16 November 2025, at the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Minister for Board of Investment, His Excellency Dato’ Azhar, together with envoys of Myanmar and Thailand undertook a visit of Chiniot city. The visit was aimed at exploring opportunity for cultural, economic and tourism cooperation.
During the visit, Dato’ Azhar visited Chiniot’s furniture market. Chiniot’s furniture industry is famous for producing exquisitely hand-carved masterpieces made from Sheesham and other high-quality wood. Ambassador Dato’ Azhar then visited the historic Shahi Mosque, a prominent landmark of Chiniot. Built between 1646 and 1655, the mosque was constructed from the region’s locally sourced Chiniot stone.
He also visited the famous Umar Hayat Mahal (also known as Gulzar Manzil), an iconic example of Chiniot’s celebrated wood craftsmanship. Construction of this architectural marvel began in 1923 and was completed in 1935. The High Commissioner also visited Muslim Bazaar, one of Chiniot’s vibrant commercial and cultural hubs, where the region’s traditional woodwork and local craftsmanship were showcased and explained during an on-site briefing. At the end of the visit, the Minister presented souvenir to Ambassador Dato’ Azhar.
