Pakistan Day Celebrations held at the High Commission for Pakistan
To mark the auspicious occasion of Pakistan Day, a reception was hosted at the High Commission for Pakistan, Canberra today.
High Commissioner Babar Amin, senior officials of the Embassy alongwith their spouses greeted the guests. The reception was a very well attended event in which a large number of members of Diplomatic Corps, Parliamentarians, Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, other high ranking Australian government officials, senior officers from the Australian Armed Forces, local intelligentsia, media representatives and dignitaries participated.
In his remarks, the High Commissioner recalled the historic struggle for Pakistan’s freedom and emphasized that the democratic ideals and values espoused in the Lahore Resolution of 1940 guided the Muslims of the Sub-Continent to independence in 1947.
The High Commissioner lauded the close, cordial and mutually beneficial bilateral relations between Pakistan and Australia. The two countries he said, maintained a comprehensive partnership in the fields of socio-economic development, agriculture, health, education, defence, security and development assistance. The High Commissioner also highlighted the people-centric development, justice, employment generation and better opporitunities for the deprived to be among the top priorities of the Government. He stated that Pakistan was poised to become a regional economic power as economists regard it to be the catalyst for the future regional economic integration and development.
The High Commissioner offered heartfelt condolences over the loss of precisous lives, including 9 Pakistani citizens, in the horrific terrorist attack in Christchurch. He appreciated the people of New Zealand and Australian for reaching out to the Muslims community to bring succour in anxiety and pain caused by the attack.
Referring to the recent tensions in South Asia, the High Commissioner highlighted the maturity and restraint shown by the Pakistan leadership for the sake of peace and stability of the region and the world.
The High Commissioner highly commended the positive contribution and fervor of the Pakistani Australian community. He urged the diaspora to continue playing its role as a bridgehead between the two countries.
The Australian Military Band played the national anthems of Pakistan and Australia, while the children sang along in chorus. Later the children attired in dresses depicting various regions of Pakistan presented tableaus on folk and national songs, which, was highly commended by the guests.
