udanese Ambassador Tageldin Elhadi Eltahir along with senior embassy staffers welcomed hundreds of guests to a reception to mark Sudan`s 61st Independence Day on Friday. Mir Hasil Bizenjo, the federal minister for ports and shipping, was invited as the chief guest.

The reception took place in the spacious Marquee Hall at the Marriott Hotel, with dinner served at the poolside.

At the dinner, some Sudanese students joked that the pool reminded them of the Nile, which flows through Sudan.

Osman, a student who recently completed a graduate programme at the University of Punjab, said he hoped to continue his MPhil studies in Pakistan.

After the national anthems of Sudan and Pakistan were played, atraditional cake-cutting ceremony was held, for which envoys from several countries including Sudan`s sister countries in Africa and the Arab world gathered on stage.

While there were no speeches, in a written supplement given to all the guests at the reception, the Sudanese envoy highlighted the country`s cordial relations with Pakistan.

He emphasised the importance of increased trade between the two countries. `Sudan can export to Pakistan cotton, gold, oil products, animal and agricultural products, etc., and import machineries, medicines, medical equipments, leather products, wheat, sugar, textile, means of transport, etc., from Pakistan.