KABUL - Pakistan Day was celebrated at Pakistan Embassy, Kabul, with zeal and fervor to commemorate the passage of historical Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940,  which laid the foundation stone for the creation of an independent country for the Muslims of the Sub-continent. The Pakistan Day ceremony started with recitation of The Holy Quran followed by the national anthem and hoisting of Pakistan flag by Ambassador, Syed Abrar Hussain. A large number of Pakistanis from all walks of life including engineers, doctors, senior executives, businessmen and academicians attended the ceremony.

While addressing the participants of the ceremony, Ambassador Syed Abrar Hussain highlighted the immense sacrifices rendered by our forefathers in pursuit of their struggle for a separate homeland. He said that the Pakistan’s Resolution of 23rd March 1940 paved the way for an independent country. The Ambassador said that we need to pay rich tributes to the Father of Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah whose untiring efforts led to the realization of Muslims’ dream for a separate country.  He further stated that it was incumbent upon the present generation to strictly adhere to the guiding principles of the Father of the Nation i.e. Unity, Faith and Discipline.

Ambassador Syed Abrar Hussain also underlined the need for promoting closer cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan so as to meet the security and economic challenges faced by the two neighbours.  The Ambassador said it was the earnest desire of Pakistan to see Afghanistan a prosperous, peaceful and stable country because a peaceful Afghanistan was not only in the interest of Pakistan but of the entire region. He informed the participants that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, was taking keen interest in strengthening relations with this brotherly nation and has increased the portfolio of development fund for Afghanistan from $385 to $500 million. These funds are being used for various projects in education, health and infrastructure and include construction of roads, hospitals, schools, etc. The Ambassador said that the number of scholarships for the Afghan students was increased from 2000 to 3000. In order to improve road connectivity with Afghanistan, Pakistan was working on Peshawar-Jalalabad Motorway, Chaman-Kandahar and Peshawar-Jalalabad Railway link as it is committed to the economic betterment of the people of Afghanistan.

Ambassador Syed Abrar Hussain urged the Pakistani community and Embassy officials to work with renewed commitment and dedication to serve their homeland. (PR)