I felicitate my Pakistani brothers and sisters residing in Saudi Arabia on the auspicious occasion of the fifty-seventh anniversary of the independence of Pakistan. Every year on this day we celebrate the glorious culmination of an epic democratic struggle under the great and dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. That leadership combined with the steadfastness and will of the Muslim nation and their peaceful democratic and constitutional struggle led to the emergence of Pakistan on the world map as a new independent and sovereign state. Today, let us together endeavor to make Pakistan a modern, Islamic welfare state as envisioned by the Quaid-e-Azam.
August 14th not only refreshes our memories of the heroic struggle of Muslims of the sub-continent for a separate homeland but also provides an occasion for self-accountability, to look into our hearts and ask ourselves as to whether we have fulfilled the pledges we had made at the time of creation of Pakistan. Our strength, progress and prosperity depend on adherence to Islam and the cherished principles of Unity, Faith and Discipline - the motto given to us by the Father of the Nation for our guidance. Hence, we must follow these golden principles for our personal and national development.
Since its creation, Pakistan, with the grace of Allah Almighty, has made remarkable progress in different socio-economic fields bringing prosperity to the people. Under the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain Pakistan is firmly poised to march ahead as a genuine democracy and a progressive Islamic state.
Responsive to the aspirations of the people of Pakistan, the government has moved forward on the path to good governance, genuine democracy, economic progress and human development for which our people have had to wait so long. The country is well on the way to economic recovery with our foreign exchange reserves now in excess of $12 billion. An investment-friendly atmosphere exists in Pakistan today due to liberal and attractive incentives provided for various socio-economic fields.
It is highly gratifying that the leaders of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have always been fully alive to the Islamic injunctions that bind them as well as the peoples of the two countries in cordial and brotherly relations. The existing profound understanding between the leaders and peoples of the two brotherly states, has always been a basis for promoting meaningful and fruitful cooperation in all fields, to our mutual benefit. Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia share a close identity of views and perceptions on major global and regional issues. In the recent past, President Musharraf and Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat visited Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Abdullah was received in Pakistan. The leaders of the two countries in their bilateral meetings reaffirmed their keen resolve not only to continue with but also further strengthen bilateral cooperation and mutual trust in all fields of life between the two countries.
The people of Pakistan hold Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of National Guard, in the highest esteem.
In the end, I take this opportunity to impress on my compatriots, engaged in various pursuits in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to perform their functions with zest and zeal for the progress and prosperity of this Holy land, I take immense pride in the role played by our expatriate community in the progress and rapid economic development of Saudi Arabia, a fact which is greatly valued by our gracious hosts. I also call upon my fellow countrymen to remember and realize their commitments to their own beloved country Pakistan and faithfully and efficiently endeavor to fulfill them.
G. Farid Farrukh, Charge d’Affaires
Embassy of Pakistan, Riyadh