News East West
MISSISSAUGA: Zainab Naveed was crowned as Miss Pakistan World and Shan Virk as Mr Pakistan World at a pageant at the Red Rose Convention Centre here.
Naveed, the 25-year-old beauty from New York, representing Lahore, beat 10 contestants to win the crown.
Sabiha Zahid from London (Britain) was the second runner-up, Zulaikha Khan from Surrey (Canada) the third runner-up and Mariam Zahid from Vancouver the fourth runner-up.
Mariam Dawood of Raeford in North Carolina was declared as Miss Congeniality, Parmal Naseer of Hamilton (Canada) as Miss Popularity, Mariam Khan Ali of Copenhagen as Miss Perfect, Maria Mughal of Auckland as Miss Talent and Sabiha Zahid of London as Miss Photogenic.
Shan Virk of Oakville, near Toronto, won the title of Mr Pakistan by beating six other contestants. He was also declared Mr Perfect in a previous round.
Ali Haider Shah of Copenhagen was declared the second runner-up, and Sharjeel Arif Butt of Mississauga (near Toronto) the third runner-up.
Ahmad Saleem and Sharjeel Ali Butt of Mississauga were declared Mr Photogenic and Mr Popularity respectively. Ali Haider Shah of Copenhagen was declared Mr Personality.
During the preliminary rounds, the contestants were asked loaded questions about their attitude towards gay and inter-faith marriages and pre-marital sex, and their opinions on the current image of Pakistan in the world and India-Pakistan relations. Upholding their cultural and religious values, all of them came out with flying colours.
Dozens of young men and women of Pakistani origin from all over the world had applied for the 10th edition of the pageant. But the list was pruned to just 11 women and seven men after pre-screenings.
Miss Pakistan World president Sonia Ahmed thanked the participants and sponsors for making the pageant a success. “It was a difficult year, but we pulled it through. I have done it for 10 years despite all the difficulties and hope to do it for 25-30 more years,’’ she said, thanking the audience.
Canadian minister of state for sports Bal Gosal was among the audience. He conveyed his government’s best wishes for the pageant.
All in all, these young men and women projected a very positive and progressive image of Pakistan.
