U.S. Ambassador Munter Returns to the Heart of the Punjab

October 5, 2011

Visits the Children’s Television Workshop, Shaukat Khanum Hospital, and Cooco’s Den

Lahore – During his visit to Lahore, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter, accompanied by his wife Dr. Marilyn Wyatt and Consul General Nina Fite, visited Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital’s children’s ward where they distributed gifts and met with patients and medical staff. Drawing on own their own experience of being the parents of a child with cancer, the Ambassador and Dr. Wyatt praised the resilience and courage of the children and their families.

The visit also included a stop at the Pakistan Children’s Television Project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in cooperation with the Rafi Peer Theater Workshop.  During their tour of the studio, Ambassador Munter and Dr. Wyatt interacted with newly created puppets and their puppeteers.  The four-year Pakistan Children Television (PCTV) Project is producing Sim Sim Hamara, Pakistan’s first home-grown educational children’s show which is based on the internationally beloved Sesame Street program.

Earlier in the visit, Ambassador Munter attended the launch of renowned artist Iqbal Hussain’s biography, “The Painter of Imprisoned Souls: Iqbal Hussain.” The launch was held at Cooco’s Den, the artist’s own home and café, famous for its spectacular vista of the Badshahi Mosque and the Lahore Fort. The Ambassador also met with Punjab Governor Latif Khosa.