On 19 April 2011, Ambassador Marut Jitpatima accompanied by Mr. Chanchai Jiamboonsri, Deputy Chief of Mission and Mr. Panutat Yodkaew, Second Secretary attended the opening ceremony of the 23rd Cultural Week of International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) at the IIU’s Conference Hall. The ceremony was graced by Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik, Rector of IIUI and Professor Dr. Mumtaz Ahmad, IIUI’s President.    Also present on the occasion were IIU’s Deans, professors, and senior faculty members, lecturers from other universities, media persons and members of diplomatic corps including Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and Syria and Charge d’ affaires of Afghanistan.   

This cultural week is an annual event and its two main objectives are to groom the overall talent of the students in co-curricular activities and to help students from various countries better understand and appreciate other countries’ culture through cultural performances, exhibitions of food, books, pictures and handicraft, stories writing, debates, and sports competition.

With the support of the Royal Thai Embassy, Islamabad,  25 Thai students who are currently studying at the IIUI took part in the cultural exhibition by setting up a booth displaying pictures of Their Majesties the King and Queen, samples of Thai food,  some Thai handicraft, books about Thailand, and fruits carving.   The Thai booth which drew some 3,000 visitors was very popular among them.