Sunday 07 / July / 2024
Muscat: “Oman is a second home for every expat and all communities feel proud to live here,” Azra Aleem, a famous advertising figure in Oman said.
The Pakistani national arrived in Muscat in 1984, and since then she has been volunteering to help the needy in the Sultanate.
The mother of three daughters lived in Ruwi when she first arrived in the Sultanate and was a beautician and taught women the art of applying henna.
“I never felt away from home when I came here. Omanis have very good ties and many of them can speak Urdu and have relatives back in Pakistan,” Aleem said, adding that the lifestyle in Oman is similar to that in her hometown.
“Thanks to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s vision and balanced politics, all communities in Oman are proud to be here and represent this country, which has been dramatically developing since the Sultan rose to power in 1970,” she added.
Aleem is well known for her contribution to community social services. Her volunteering career started as a volunteer teacher at the Pakistani School Muscat, and she has been participating in the Annual Food festival with a food stall for charity since 1995.
Aleem was elected Director of the Pakistan Social Club (2007 to 2009) and (2014 to 2016) and was appointed as the head of the women’s wing of the Pakistan Social Club Oman from 2014 to 2016.
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As a volunteer, Aleem rendered social services for Pakistanis abroad in death cases and participated in the “Clean Oman Campaign” two years ago.
According to Aleem, her objective is to seek a challenging position under a proficient guidance, which permits her to use her technical knowledge and skills to further deepen her insight and translate it through her sincerity and hard work.
She was also a part of the “i-Care Initiative Oman” between 2011 and 2014. Interestingly, Aleem is the first female editor in Oman for international online newspaper www.dailypukar.com and is, according to her, the only female commentator in Oman at various Cricket Tournaments from 2007 till now.
Her love for cricket allowed her to become the co-organiser and commentator at a Friendly Cricket Match for Charity (Shoaib Akhtar was the special guest from Pakistan), which was organised by the Embassy of Pakistan in Oman in May 2013.
Not only is she a sports fan, but also an actress. The multi-talented woman participated in “Beautiful Oman,” a live stage drama in Urdu organised by the Pakistan Social Club in association with the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Tourism in the celebration of International Theatre Day on March 27, 2012.
Aleem has also modelled for various advertisements, traffic safety campaigns and other commercial promotions.
“I am a housewife and I love to use my spare time to help the country, which has welcomed and respected me, my family and community,” she said, adding that her love for volunteering will continue.
