Pakistan Day: Grand Functions in UK, China, Switzerland, Bangladesh
'Pakistan Times' Overseas Bureaus

LONDON (UK): A grand and impressive flag hoisting ceremony was held at the Pakistan High Commission in Knightsbridge to mark the 60 years of Independence from the British colonial rule here on Tuesday.

Pakistan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi hoisted the national flag at the premises of the chancery in presence of a large number of expatriate community and British Pakistanis.

Present on the occasion was the Chief Minister Baluchistan Jam Muhammad Yousuf, First British Muslim UK Minister Shahid Malik, leading industrialist Sir Anwar Pervez, Muzaffar Chaudhry President, UK-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce, British boxing champion Amir Khan, members of Parliament and House of Lords, Mayors, councillors, businessmen, bankers, Pakistani students studying in various British institutions in London, and staff of the High Commission.

After the national anthem was played and Talawat-i-Quran recited, the High Commissioner read out the Independence Day messages from President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Kashmiri leader Maulana Muhammad Yaqoob Chishti raised slogans of ‘Quaid-i-Azam Zindbad’ and ‘Pakistan Paindabad’ with a vociferous support of the audience.

A group of Pakistani school children led by first secretary Shakeel Asghar rendered national songs while another prominent TV compere Rehan Babar sang ‘Dil’Dil’ Pakistan.

Student Khyber Manzoor delighted the audience with his dancing.

The High Commissioner was then joined by Shahid Malik and Amir Khan in jointly cutting the 60th anniversary cake to mark the occasion. Despite dull and grey skies, a festive atmosphere prevailed at the High Commission.

Later, the High Commissioner launched ‘Britstar’ a special publication that paid tributes to the young achievers of the British-Pakistan community.

In her remarks, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi described them as ‘pace setters, high fliers, trail blazers and amazing role models.

She said the young British Pakistanis have been making waves and headlines in the UK in virtually every professional field from the financial sectors, business, medicine, engineering, science, sports and journalism to the arts and film-making.

“We salute them for their accomplishments and for their remarkable contributions both to their country of birth and to the country where their parents came from. The enterprise and professionalism manifest in their careers reflects the vigour and vitality of the overseas Pakistani community at large.”

China

A grand function was held at the Pakistan Embassy to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Independence of Pakistan in which Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistani Ghulam Sarwar Khan was the chief Guest.

Earlier, Ambassador Salman Bashir performed the flag hoisting ceremony that was largely attended by the Pakistani community including businessmen, bankers, and officials of airlines, Chinese media and Pakistani students studying in various Chinese institutions. On the occasion, national anthem was also played.

Congratulating the participants on the occasion, the Minister said Pakistan was achieved after enormous sacrifices rendered by our forefathers and it was now our responsibility to work hard with unity for the progress and development of the country as envisioned by Father of the nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

“As a Pakistani it is the responsibility of the whole nation to work for the progress and development of Pakistan”, he asserted.

The minister pointed out that there is no need of getting any directives in this regards from any body, therefore everyone should contribute spontaneously for achieving these goals.

He said that today we should renew our pledge that we would sacrifice every thing for the betterment of our homeland and their people. Referring to the Pakistani community present at the gathering, the Minister said that Pakistanis living abroad playing a pivotal role for the socio-economic development of their beloved country.

He said that according to an estimate over 7.5 million Pakistanis residing across the world and their contribution in the development of their mother land is enormous.

The Minister said that Sino-Pak relations in various fields are playing an important role and our friendship is time tested and we have similar views on various regional and international issues.

He said that there is no dearth of talent among our younger generations and at present over three thousand Pakistanis students are studying here in China and after their successful completion of various courses they would contribute enormously in the development of Pakistan.

Earlier, Ambassador Salman Bashir read-out messages of President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz issued on the occasion.

Ambassador Salman Bashir in his address said that the leadership, the government and the people of the two countries and specially all of us in Pakistan Embassy are fully committed to further strengthening our friendship and partnership with China.

He expressed deepest thanks to distinguished guests specially Chief of the Chinese International Institute of Strategic Studies (CIISS) Bing Guo, Chinese think tanks, Chinese Media and senior representatives of cross section of people for attending today’s function and said that it was another example that demonstrate the deep rooted Pakistan China friendship.

Referring to the musical programme arranged on the occasion in which, not only the students of Pakistan Embassy College, but a host of Chinese artists performed and sung Pakistani national songs, the Ambassador said that we all are very proud of their outstanding contribution that also demonstrate their love and warmth towards Pakistan and it also added extra colour in today’s programme.

The Ambassador on the occasion also expressed his delight over the participation of the members of Pakistan Hockey Team, Chief Coach Islahuddin Siddiqui, Coach Manzoor-ul-Hassan, the former Sindh Governor and President Employers” Federation of Pakistan Ashraf W. Tabani who was here to attended the ILO seminar. On the occasion, Ghulam Sarwar also cut the cake to mark the anniversary.

Earlier, the students of Pakistan Embassy College, two Chinese artists on “Sitar” and a famous Chinese singer Hou Wei, who also received Tamgha-e-Quaid-i-Azam recently, sung a number of national songs to the delight of the large number of Pakistanis and Chinese guests.

The Minister and Chief Coach of Pakistan Hockey team Islahuddin Siddiqui lauded the efforts of Ambassador Salman Bashir for organizing such a grand function in which not only Pakistani community but a large number of important Chinese officials and other dignitaries participated.

The Minister said China is our neighbour and an important friend and partner and it was a great honour for him to visiting such a great country and participating in today’s grand function. Islahuddin Siddiqui said the function made the Pakistani Hockey team possible to meet their fellow Pakistani that were present here in large number. He said hockey players mingled with the Pakistanis attending this programme and everyone is interested to have photograph with these players.

He said that credit for holding such a beautiful function certainly goes to the Ambassador.

Islahuddin said that although we were away from our country, the assistance, hospitality and support extended by the staff of Pakistan Embassy on the direction of the Ambassador did make us homesick.

Switzerland

Independence Day was celebrated at the Pakistan Permanent Mission in Geneva in a simple and dignified ceremony.

After the flag hoisting at 0800 hours, held at the Chancery, Ambassador Masood Khan, Permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN in Geneva, read out messages from the President and the Prime Minister on the auspicious occasion, says a fax message received here from Geneva.

Recalling the dynamic leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, ambassador highlighted the milestones the nation had crossed since independence, particularly during the last seven years.

The Ambassador urged the gathering to continue working tirelessly for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan, following the motto of unity, faith and discipline.

The Permanent Representative informed the gathering that Pakistan is on a sure and sustainable macro-economic footing with investment and entrepreneurial activities spreading across sectors.

He stated that polices of economic reform have led to macro economic stability and high economic growth. Pakistan is poised to build on these strengths and to become a regional commercial and economic hub.

On this occasion, solidarity was also expressed with those affected by recent floods in Pakistan. The Permanent Representative urged the Pakistani community in Geneva to contribute towards efforts for relief and rehabilitation of the displaced and affected people from the cyclones and floods.

He informed that the Mission has already opened a special account with UBS in Geneva for President’s Relief Fund for flood victims.

India

The 60th Independence Day of Pakistan was observed at Pakistan High Commission, Delhi with flag hoisting ceremony, playing of national anthem and presenting of tableaus by children on Tuesday.

Shahid Malik, Pakistan High Commissioner to India hoisted the national flag in the presence of High Commission’s officers, staff and their family members.

Messages of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were read on the occasion.

National songs were played while children of Pakistan High Commission’s school, attired in colourful dresses presented tableau highlighting Pakistan’s culture and development. Gifts and sweets were distributed among the children at the ceremony.

Bangladesh

Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in Dhaka Bangladesh celebrated the 60th anniversary of the independence of Pakistan Tuesday, at a simple and solemn ceremony.

To celebrate the auspicious day, defying rain, the officials and employees of PHC and a large number of Pakistani nationals living in Dhaka, including their spouses and kids, assembled in the High Commission.

About 200 Pakistani nationals, which is perhaps the largest gathering since the PHC started its activities in Bangladesh in 1976, attended the flag hoisting ceremony.

The simple programme of flag hoisting started with the recitation from the holy Quran followed by its Urdu translation.

Alamgir Barbar, the High Commissioner of Pakistan in Bangladesh, hoisted the national flag of Pakistan whilst its National Anthem was being played.

The Deputy High Commissioner Ayaz Ahmed Khan read out the messages of President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Leading dailies and weeklies of Dhaka brought out special supplements on this occasion. Features, articles, editorial comments were published in several dailies highlighting the of background of Pakistan Movement and the development that Pakistan achieved during the last 60 years.

Due to rain the ‘Ghazal Night’ scheduled to be held at High Commission compound tonight on the occasion 60th Independence Day was cancelled. Pakistan legend Ghazal songster Ustad Gulam Ali Khan was scheduled to sing ghazal at the cancelled function.

Lebanon

A flag hoisting ceremony was held in the Embassy of Pakistan, Beirut on Tuesday to celebrate the country’s Independence Day.

Ambassador of Pakistan, Nawabzada Aminullah Khan Raisani addressing the participants of the ceremony which included members of the Pakistani community highlighted the significance of the day and urged the community to work hard for the progress and prosperity of the country.

He referred to the major achievements of the government over the last eight years that have helped Pakistan attain its potential in various fields.

The messages of President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were also read out on the occasion.●