ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have felicitated the nation on the occasion of Pakistan Day.
In his message, the president said that on this day in 1940, Muslims of the sub-continent passed the Pakistan Resolution and demanded a separate homeland where they could freely lead their lives per Islamic ideals. Today, we pay tribute to our nation’s founders whose struggles and sacrifices led to the creation of Pakistan.
The president said that the persecution of minorities, especially the Muslims in India; the rising wave of Hindutva and violence against Muslims; violation of human rights, and brutalities being committed by the Indian Security Forces in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) prove that the Muslim leadership of that time made a prudent decision.
He said this day also reminds us to take stock of our successes and failures as a nation. At the time of independence, we faced many challenges like the settlement and rehabilitation of refugees, constitutional and administrative problems of the nascent state, security threats, laying solid social, economic and industrial foundations, and the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir.
Despite these challenges, we made tremendous achievements in every field through our continuous hard work and ability.
Dr Alvi said that “we established state institutions, made our defence impregnable, achieved nuclear deterrence, curbed terrorism, overcame the COVID-19 pandemic, and displayed the spirit of sacrifice and cooperation in the face of natural calamities. We still have a long way to go to ensure the rule of law, strengthen democracy, reduce inequalities in our society, empower women, provide the rights of persons with disabilities, eradicate terrorism and extremism, ensure the political and economic stability of the country, and protect the human rights of our citizens.”
He said: “Considering our achievements in the past, I strongly believe that we can overcome the challenges faced by Pakistan today. If we continue to work with unity, faith and discipline, we can make Pakistan a strong and prosperous country. May Allah be with us all. Ameen!
Prime Minister felicitates nation
PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the 23rd of March “is an epoch-making day in our national history that reminds us of our past, invites us to ponder over our present state of affairs and inspires us to build a prosperous future.”
The premier said, “this day is also the day to renew our pledge. It takes us back to 1940 when Muslims of the sub-continent approved a resolution to establish a separate homeland they could call their own under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.”
He said Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s dream of freedom manifested in a resolution representing Muslims’ demands and aspirations for a separate homeland. The consequential seven years witnessed history in the making as the Quaid-i-Azam led a relentless struggle to translate the dream of Iqbal into reality. The creation of Pakistan is certainly a miracle of the 20th century.
He said “the last seventy-five years of our journey have seen us fight many crises, from wars to natural disasters. There have been many occasions when we overcame the odds and achieved many milestones. As a member of the international community, Pakistan has played the role of a responsible nation in resolving problems facing humanity and establishing global peace.”
The premier said as “we celebrate Pakistan Day today and pay tribute to the sacrifices of our founding fathers, we should keep sight of the challenges staring us in the face.”
PM Shehbaz said the challenges are topped by economic instability and the inability to settle the game’s rules. An environment of political chaos explains why we have failed to develop our economy sustainably.
He said that Pakistan came into being due to political and constitutional struggle and its future lies in adhering to the constitution in its letter and spirit.
“I have no doubt that Pakistan is destined to achieve great heights. However, for this to become a reality, we have to forge unity in our ranks, equip ourselves with national purpose and vow to wage a struggle in line with the legacy of our forefathers,” he said.
He said, “let us use this day to introspect and hold ourselves to account.” Only nations capable of analysing their past, learning from their mistakes and making amends can achieve true glory.
