Pakistani-American community
celebrated Pakistan Day
(23rd March, 2006)
Pakistani-American community celebrated Pakistan Day
with traditional fervor and enthusiasm while remembering the arduous struggle
and sacrifices rendered by their founding fathers. They renewed their
pledge to make Pakistan a strong, forward looking and progressive country.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Jehangir
Karamat hoisted the national flag at a simple but impressive ceremony
held at the Embassy. The ceremony began with the recitation of the holy
Quran followed by the flag hoisting with the national anthem being played
in the background. Ambassador Karamat separately read out Pakistan Day
messages of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
In their messages the President and the Prime Minister called for national
cohesion, moderation and a forward looking vision to meet today’s
challenges. They urged the people of Pakistan to play their role in the
progress of the country and the welfare of its people.
President Musharraf in his message said “as a result
of prudent policies over the last seven years, we stand tall in the comity
of nations and have assumed a key role amongst the Muslim Ummah. Pakistanis
have also demonstrated to the world that our people have the courage,
fortitude and resolve to meet all challenges of our times. This fact has
been amply proven by the people of Pakistan once again by the tremendous
response in the wake of the devastating earthquake of 8th October 2005.”
Pakistan today is a country rapidly moving on the path of progress and
development. Reforms in all sectors have been successfully introduced
and are being implemented. A new direction has been given to our nation‘s
destiny through enlightened moderation.
The President, in his message, expressed the confidence
that if the nation continued to tread this path the country will be transformed
into a truly Islamic welfare state as envisaged by the Quaid-e-Azam, Allama
Iqbal and the leaders of Pakistan movement.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in his message said that
his Government was determined to make Pakistan an enlightened, tolerant
and moderate country that ensures social justice and equal opportunities
to its every citizen irrespective their caste, creed, color or gender.
He emphasized the need to fight the evils of corruption, illiteracy, nepotism,
parochialism, sectarianism and terrorism that slow down the country’s
march towards achieving the goals set by its founding fathers. He reminded
the nation that in the present environment it was all the more imperative
to place the national unity and integrity above any other consideration.
Flag hoisting ceremonies were also held in the Consulates
General of Pakistan in New York, Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago, where
the Consuls General hoisted the national flag and read out messages of
the President and the Prime Minister.
