Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon has been given the 14. August Committee’s Bridge Building Prize 2011 for his work in building links between the Norwegian and Pakistani societies.
The prize will be handed to the heir to the throne on 14 August, Pakistan’s independence day. The committee, founded in 2003, aims to celebrate the Pakistani independence day in Norway and “reduce the distance between the Norwegian-Pakistani population and Norwegian society.”
Commenting on their decision, the committee released a statement quoted by Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) that said, “the committee has especially taken notice of the Crown Prince’s warm heart for the weakest in the world, namely poor people.” It continued, “the Crown Prince’s participation in the torchlight procession in order to stand together in mourning for the flood victims in Pakistan last year gave a strong signal to the world outside.”
Former winners include Crown Prince Haakon’s father, King Harald V, and his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, as well as American President Barack Obama, former Pakistani President Muhammad Rafiq, Wenche Foss, Angelina Jolie and the Prince of Wales.
Views and News staff