Pakistan Independence Day celebrated with zeal, fervor

The Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia Wednesday celebrated the Pakistan Independence Day with simplicity, zeal and fervor.
The day started with flag hoisting ceremonies held simultaneously at the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh, where people gathered from different quarters and Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah.
Mohammed Naeem Khan, ambassador of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, unfurled the national flag, at a largely attended ceremony held in the Embassy building here and the messages of the President and the Prime Minister were read out.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal congratulated all Pakistanis living in Saudi Arabia on Independence Day of Pakistan.
“Pakistanis are a patriotic nation who are not only resilient but hardworking and intelligent. Our forefathers gave us Pakistan as homeland and PML government in the country will give bright and promising future to new generation,” he said.
He was speaking as chief guest in flag hoisting ceremony to mark the 67th Independence Day of Pakistan at the Consulate, where the members of Pakistani community from Jeddah, Makkah, Taif and adjacent areas gathered to attend the flag hoisting ceremony.
The minister said that every Pakistani has to work day and night for the economic transformation of the country.
“Unfortunately, for the last 14 years no sustained efforts were made for economic planning,” the minister said. “As a result, we failed to develop our economic relations even with those countries with whom we have excellent political and diplomatic relations.”
Iqbal said the new government is taking steps to market “Made in Pakistan” and expect to achieve the benchmark of $3-4 billion exports in next two to three years, which will provide such an environment in the country which will be conducive for economic and industrial growth.
He added that Pakistan government would launch by Dec. 31 its program “Vision 2025” which will provide solid road-map to the development in socio-economic sectors in the country.
He said that their government had already cleared circular debt amounting to $500 million, which has led to increase in power generation.
The minister maintained that the new government, which has vast experience of governance under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohammed Nawaz Sharif, is set to lead the country on path of progress, development and prosperity by taking proper decision not popular decision as the present situation warrants taking only proper decisions for giving the nation a better future.
“For this the government needs public support both inside the country and abroad,” the minister said.
Ambassador Khan said that Pakistan continues to play its important role in the global community.
“Our efforts for the maintenance of peace and security in the world are appreciated worldwide,” he said. “We are also one of the largest contributors to the United Nations’ peacekeeping forces around the globe.”
He said that we have pride in our special relationship with Saudi Arabia.
“Based on the solid foundations of Islamic identity, shared civilizational heritage, commonality of perceptions on international issues and mutual goodwill at the public level, these relations continue to gain strength with each passing day.
The relationship is also nurtured by the special love and reverence that the people of Pakistan have for Saudi Arabia, the holy land. The government and people of Pakistan also have profound love and respect for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Salman, the royal family and the government and people of Saudi Arabia,” the ambassador said.





In Jeddah the Federal Minister and the Consul General Aftab A. Khokhar jointly unfurled the flag.