Enthusiast Pakistani diaspora across Australia Saturday celebrated Pakistan Day with traditional fervor to make Pakistan a model welfare state.
The main event of Pakistan Day was flag hoisting ceremony held at the High Commission for Pakistan, Canberra where the High Commissioner Babar Amin hoisted the national flag.
While addressing the National Day ceremony, High Commissioner Babar Amin said that, under its current reforms agenda, the government has identified socio-economic justice, rule of law, transparency, and promotion of merit-based policies, employment generation and elimination of corruption as its prime targets.
He added that, the government has also introduced necessary structural reforms which are expected to boost industry, agriculture, services of education, healthcare, tourism and other sectors which would result in the rapid and extensive economic turnaround. The investors’ confidence has been boosted providing a sound and reliable basis for FDI and enhanced trade and commerce.
Special prayers for peace, progress and prosperity of Pakistan and victims of the Christchurch shooting were offered.
While appreciating the Pakistani community for its positive contribution to the development of Australia, he urged them to continue to play its role in acting as a bridgehead in fostering closer relations between the two friendly countries.
The event was very well attended by a large number of community members from Canberra, Sydney; defense forces officers attending courses here.
Earlier, to mark the auspicious occasion of Pakistan Day, High Commissioner Babar Amin hosted a reception at the High Commission.
The reception was a very well attended event in which a large number of members of Diplomatic Corps, Australian 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, defense, security and development assistance.
“The most sustaining link between Pakistan and Australia is provided by the Pakistan Diaspora here. I am happy to say that our community has been positively contributing to the development of Australia through its integrative initiatives and hard work which makes us all very proud”, he said.
He reminded that it was the community from areas now in Pakistan that had in 1860s and onward helped open Australia’s outback by laying telegraphic and railway lines. People to people contacts, educational links with over 13,000 Pakistani students in Australia, and our common passion for cricket bring us even closer.
The High Commissioner also highlighted the people-centric development, justice, employment generation and better opportunities 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 precious 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 succor 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 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 tableau on folk and national songs, which, was highly commended by the guests.
