Thank You, Dr. Fabio Massimo Castaldo!

Byline: Choudhry Mohammad Sarwar

We had the distinguished honor to host his Excellency, the youngest vice president in the history of the European Parliament, Mr. Fabio Massimo Castaldo, a true democrat, champion of human rights and a friend of Pakistan. He is one of those young and vibrant political leaders who make their presence felt through their warmth and political acumen.

During his short but significant stay at Governor's House, we discussed a variety of issues from grave human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir to environmental issues facing the world. From multilayered, mutual benefit and significance of extension in GSP Plus status to Pakistan to the massive resistance against the ultra-controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 in and outside India. From Pakistan's commitment to regional and global peace under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan to observance and compliance of all the UN Conventions. I must say that it was one of the most useful and highly productive meetings of my whole political career spanning over forty years.

He was very much cognizant of the fact that people of Pakistan have greatly suffered from terrorism. The massive human toll and economic loss of billions of dollars and thousands of lives have paved the way towards today's peaceful Pakistan. During our joint press conference, he paid befitting tribute to the Armed forces of Pakistan, intelligence and all the security agencies, above all the people of Pakistan for their bravery and resilience.

As we waived him good bye at later hour of this unusually cold and calm night of December, 2019, Wajid Khan, an ex-MEP and a proud son of the soil accompanied me up-stairs to my office for a brief conversation before I and Begum Sahiba would leave for our own home to end the long day.

Wajid looked at me and said, 'Governor Sahib! During your last visit to EU Parliament, you walked 15 miles in two days to meet 36 members of the European Parliament and left us all terribly tired. What keeps you going at such an age?'

I smiled and I told him what the great American President, Theodore Roosevelt (TR) had once told to a young man when he was asked the similar question. TR had said that it is not the age or the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and...