Addressing the media at the opening of the festival, H.E. Ambassador Dato’ Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, High Commissioner of Malaysia, highlighted the importance of cultural exchange in strengthening the longstanding relationship between Malaysia and Pakistan; Christoph Hoeflich, General Manager of Islamabad Serena Hotel, welcomed the collaboration
ISLAMABAD: Dato Azhar bin Mazlan High Commissioner of Malaysia, Global CEO Serena Hotels Aziz Boolani and others cutting cake to celebrate the Malaysia’s 69th National Day with the “Visit Malaysia 2026: Tourism and Gastronomy Festival. DNA
DNA
Islamabad, 17 September 2026: The High Commission of Malaysia, in collaboration with Serena Hotels, is celebrating Malaysia’s 69th National Day with the “Visit Malaysia 2026: Tourism and Gastronomy Festival”, a week-long celebration of Malaysian cuisine and culture at Zamana Restaurant, Islamabad Serena Hotel, from 17 to 23 September 2026.
Apart from promoting Malaysia as a tourist destination, the festival brings the distinctive flavors and culinary traditions of Malaysia to Islamabad, offering guests an opportunity to experience a selection of authentic Malaysian dishes prepared by specialty chefs from Serena Hotels and the Malaysian High Commission.
Addressing the media at the opening of the festival, H.E. Ambassador Dato’ Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, High Commissioner of Malaysia, highlighted the importance of cultural exchange in strengthening the longstanding relationship between Malaysia and Pakistan. He noted that cuisine serves as one of the most meaningful ways to introduce people to a country’s unique heritage and traditions.
Christoph Hoeflich, General Manager of Islamabad Serena Hotel, welcomed the collaboration and reaffirmed Serena Hotels’ commitment to promoting cultural engagement through hospitality, cuisine and shared experiences.
The culinary programme is being led by Chef Pathman, a Malaysian specialty chef representing Serena Hotels, together with the Chef from the High Commission of Malaysia. The menu has been specially curated to showcase the diversity of Malaysian cuisine, bringing together traditional recipes, distinctive ingredients and flavors that reflect the Malaysia’s rich culinary heritage.
Complimenting the culinary experience, the festival also features special cultural performances by performers specially flown from Malaysia, adding a further dimension to the experience and giving guests a glimpse of Malaysia’s vibrant traditions beyond its cuisine.
The festival will continue at Zamana Restaurant, Islamabad Serena Hotel, until 23 September 2026, and is being held under Serena Hotels’ Cultural Diplomacy initiative, which seeks to foster greater understanding and stronger connections through culture, cuisine and shared experiences.
