Zafar Masud, Chairman and CEO of the Bank of Punjab, has been awarded Hungary’s highest civilian honor for leading the initiative to further strengthen Hungarian-Pakistani intercultural ties through the restoration of the historically significant subcontinental artwork August Schoefft by Hungarian artist.
The award “The Officer’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit” was presented to Masud by the Hungarian Ambassador to Pakistan, Bela Fazekash, on behalf of H.E. the President of the Republic of Hungary at a ceremony in Islamabad. The event was also attended by officials from the Hungarian embassy and other local and foreign dignitaries.
On that occasion, Mr. Masud said: “The restoration of the 19th-century Hungarian artist August Schoefft’s paintings in Lahore Fort by experts from Hungary to their original splendor was fully sponsored by the Bank of Punjab as one of its most important projects. Corporate social responsibility initiatives. It demonstrates the importance BOP places on preserving our common national and international heritage, which is closely linked to our value proposition.”
Masud also said that these paintings represent an important period in the history of the subcontinent and now Pakistan; and they are a valuable testament to the shared heritage of Hungary, Pakistan and the Sikh community. In my opinion, this is a true expression of our tolerance and acceptance of all cultures and societies as a nation.
Fazekash, the head of the Hungarian mission, said that this award was presented to Mr. Masud “in recognition of his outstanding contributions to strengthening the Hungarian-Pakistani cultural Cooperation” award.
He also said that this initiative to restore and display the 11 Schoefft paintings in the Lahore Fort could not have been carried out without the generous support of the Bank of Punjab.
