JEDDAH, 15 August 2003 — Members of the Pakistani community celebrated Pakistan’s Independence Day yesterday. Functions were held in Asir, Tabuk, Makkah, Yanbu, Abha and Madinah to mark the occasion.
Flag-hoisting ceremonies were held at the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah. Ambassador Abdul Aziz Mirza raised the flag at a ceremony held in the embassy in Riyadh, and the ambassador read out messages from President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali.
The ambassador urged Pakistanis to help make the country an Islamic welfare state as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said millions of people made sacrifices for a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent.
The ambassador said the government led by Prime Minister Jamali was determined to establish genuine democracy in the country. The economic policies of the government had started to yield results and far-reaching political, economic and social reforms were under way, he said.
Ambassador Mirza stressed the role played by members of the Pakistani community in the development of Saudi Arabia. He also expressed, on behalf of the government of Pakistan, gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, for their role in nourishing the fraternal ties that exist between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
In Jeddah a flag-hoisting ceremony was held at the premises of the Consulate General. A large number of Pakistanis and officials from the Consulate and the Pakistan International School attended the function.
Acting Consul General Suljuk Mustansar Tarar raised the national flag.
At both the ceremonies in Riyadh and Jeddah, Ambassador Mirza and Acting Consul General Tarar appealed to the community members to contribute to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund for the relief of those affected by floods in Pakistan.