Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro on Monday presented Pakistan's national flag to Ms Namira Salim - a renowned artist, and future astronaut - to be hoisted at the South Pole when she reaches there in the second week of January 2008 as part of an international expedition.
The Prime Minister said that the Pakistani youth have great potential to accelerate in different fields bringing laurels to the country. He said that the hoisting of Pakistani flag at the South Pole, that too by a woman, would reflect a positive image of Pakistan as a peace-loving and progressive country.
Earlier, Namira Salim told the Prime Minister that she is going to be part of an expedition which is leaving next week for the South Pole from Brazil. At the Base Camp near the South Pole, she said, the group would receive training for five days. She said it is a privilege for her to be the first Pakistani to go to North and South Poles. It may be recalled that she would also be the first Pakistani to go to space on Virgin Atlantis Spaceflight towards the end of 2008.