ISLAMABAD: When music maestro Asad Anees played the national anthems of Pakistan and Poland on the piano, the audience applauded spontaneously. This was probably the first event since the Corona ban was over, which was a well attended show. Asad Anees’ piano performance won the hearts of not only foreigners but also Pakistanis present on the occasion.
The Ambassador of Poland Maciej Pesarski and the Defence Attache Bogdan Obuchowski arranged the music performance to celebrate the National Day and the Armed Forces Day of Poland rather in a different way. Ambassador Maciej in his brief remarks on the occasion welcomed the guests besides giving a brief description of what the Chopin music was. Additional Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Tariq was the chief guest, while members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of Parliament, and military personnel attended the reception.
The ambassador highlighted the salient features of defence cooperation between the two countries adding just after the Second World War a group of Polish pilots helped Pakistani people in their efforts to build a new Pakistani state, especially mentioning the name of Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz who opted to live in Pakistan’.
It may be mentioned here that Turowicz was the administrator of Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) from 1967 to 1970. He was one of forty five Polish officers and airmen who joined RPAF on contract in the early fifties. After completion of his initial contract, Turowicz opted to stay on in Pakistan and continued to serve in PAF and later, SUPARCO. Turowicz made significant contributions to Pakistan’s missile/rocket program as a chief aeronautical engineer. The Chopin competition is the most important musical event in Poland and one of the most important musical events in the world.
Maestro Asad Anees started learning piano at the age of 6, with his father being his first mentor. He made his debut at the age of 12 and has thereafter given many piano recitals in different cities of Pakistan as well as in the UAE and USA. Foremost among them stands his performance in Carnegie Hall, New York City.