ISLAMABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Ethiopian coffee has made its debut in Islamabad with the inauguration of the first-ever dedicated Ethiopian coffee cafe in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. H.E. Dr. Oumer Hussien Oba, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, inaugurated the cafe on Sunday. The inauguration was preceded by a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony attended by members of the Ethiopian community, Embassy staff and representatives of the media. Following the ceremony, Ambassador Oba held an interactive session with the media and highlighted the growing bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Pakistan. The Ambassador said the opening marked the debut of Ethiopian coffee in Pakistan through the first-ever dedicated Ethiopian cafe in the twin cities. “From the birthplace of humankind to the home of Arabica coffee, Ethiopia is called the Land of Origins for all the right reasons,” he remarked. He noted that the cafe is owned by an Ethiopian-Pakistani couple, which adds further significance to the initiative and reflects the growing fraternity and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The Ambassador said the cafe has been named “Habasha,” the historic name for Ethiopia, which has special resonance among Pakistanis due to their deep reverence for Hazrat Bilal Habashi (R.A.) and King Nejashi, who provided shelter to the earliest Muslim migrants during the First Hijra. Reaffirming his commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation, Ambassador Oba underscored the importance of promoting people-to-people contacts through increased cultural exchanges between Ethiopia and Pakistan.Speaking on the occasion, cafe owner Mr. Naeem Hashmi said Habesha aims to create a space that brings Pakistan and Ethiopia closer together and serves as a platform where people from both countries can share and discover each other’s art, culture, music and tourism.The launch of the cafe is expected to provide a unique opportunity for Pakistanis to experience Ethiopian coffee and culture while further strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two countries.