Speech of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Н.Е. Mr. Nadir Khan on 14th August 2024

 

 

Honourable guests ladies and gentlemen assalamoalaikum,

I welcome you all at the event of 78th Independence Day of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. I am thankful to all of you for your availability and participation in this event despite your commitments. My special thanks go to those guests who have travelled from different regions of Ukraine for this ceremony. Thank you very much.

         Ladies and gentlemen,

Please accept heartiest congratulations on Pakistan’s Independence Day. Most of you know that this day hold the special significance in our heart, for this historic day saw an unprecedented freedom struggle culminating in the establishment of the state of Pakistan.

         Ladies and gentlemen,

On this day we pay rich tribute to the men women and children who got together under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to struggle for the creation of a land they could call home. These men women and children did not hesitate to sacrifice their life to achieve this beautiful land what we call it today, Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

On this day we also pay rich tribute to our founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah and great philosopher Allama Dr. Mohammad Iqbal who dreamed for independent state for the Muslims of subcontinent and other leaders of Pakistan movement who were part of the great struggle for getting our homeland.  As without their great struggle and unparalleled leadership, realization of the dream of Iqbal in this time span would not have been possible. We as a nation will remain indebted and thankful to all who were part of our independence movement. May Allah bless their souls in eternal peace.

Ladies and gentlemen,

History of struggle to achieve Pakistan’s Independence is unprecedented. It cannot be explained here in details due to paucity of time however, in brief we must remember that to get a separate homeland where Muslims of the subcontinent could live their life free from shingles of British and Hindu regime: a life as per the great Islamic teachings, tradition ethos, culture and values. This was indeed a struggle against the thinking and laws of the congress which propagated Muslims to live their life forever as minority, under the hindu majority with absolute control over the Muslims.

Our Quaid Muhammad Ali Jinnah absolutely rejected this notion of living as minority for Muslims. Our Quaid was able to realize this to the Western world that Muslims are separate by all definition. Any effort to keep Muslims of subcontinent as a minority in a unified country would lead to a disastrous consequence.

Ladies and gentlemen,

         We got independence on 14th August 1947 and Pakistan came into being as an Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Unfortunately, our adversaries on our East never accepted Pakistan’s creation as an independent state and always tried to create hurdled and difficulties. Our history of 77 years of independence is full of challenges, just to mention few:-

  • Incomplete partition with unresolved Kashmir issue
  • Migration and refugees crisis
  • Leadership crisis (death of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and killing of Liaqat Ali Khan)
  • Wars with India (1948, 1965 and 1971)
  • Effects of soviet invasion in Afghanistan leading to war on terror (WoT)
  • Natural disasters
  • Sanctions and so on

         Every decade or so we faced a major crisis which predicted that country would not survive, and we faced huge propaganda of our enemy.

         Ladies and gentlemen,

Alhumdulillah,

We came out of all crisis and we have so much to be proud off.

Let’s talk today about the positives about our beautiful homeland, especially for our guests present here from Ukraine and also for our guests from Pakistan who are now residing in Ukraine.

  • Please see strategic location of Pakistan on a world map with its over 1000 kilometer of coastline
  • Biggest Muslims countries from population stand point
  • Only Muslim nuclear power with strong armed forces (180 votes in UNSC temporary
  • Natural resources both tapped and untapped
  • Human resource (60 % under the age of 35 years)
  • Energy potential (33 thousand GW, coal, solar and wind)
  • 2nd largest coal reserves
  • Top ten labour resources (72 million average age 21 years)
  • Highways & motorways (12800 kilometers)
  • Leading sports nation (World Champion Cricket, Hockey, Squash, Snooker and maker of footballs for world cup)
  • One of the leading economies of the world during COVID-19 (27th largest economy of the world, ranked 30th in stock exchange performance)
  • 1 million hectors agricultural land and Asia’s largest manmade irrigation system
  • US$ 64 billion investment in CPEC projects as part of road and belt initiatives
  • Last for not least high-performance achievements Dr. Abdus Salam, Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Prize winners), Arshad Nadeem (New Olympic Record in Javelin Through)

Ladies and gentlemen

What I am highlighting here is that we need not to get disappointed by the negative propaganda of our adversaries and enemies of the state. There are huge challenges and undoubtedly, we need to improve in many walks of life. For which we all must strive and play a role as loyal and proud citizens of Pakistan. Before I conclude and read the message of the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, I would like to say few words for Embassy’s work in last one year of my stay.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are working in close cooperation and coordination with Ukrainian friends. Visit of the Foreign Minister of Ukraine to Pakistan, Participation of the First Lady of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in First Ladies and Gentlemen Forum, regular communications and exchange of messages between the leadership of the two countries are some of the points which reflects positivity in our relation.

Pakistan considers Ukraine as a brotherly country and is playing its role for bringing peace back to Ukraine. Pakistan believes in territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries.

Pakistan and Ukraine are also agreed to hold Bilateral Political Consultations during this year.

We are also engaged in multiple positive initiatives for cooperation in the field of education, health, defence and other businesses.

Our Consular matters related to facilitation of visa processes and visa fee have also made positive progress.

We wish and desire to seek return of complete peace in Ukraine as soon as it is possible. Pakistan has been and will always be happy to play constructive role for the settlement of the issue.

On this occasion we must not forget our brothers and sisters in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). We stand in complete solidarity with the oppressed people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), who are waging a struggle for their right of self-determination.  

Now I shall read the message of the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Mr. Asif Ali Zardari.