On this auspicious occasion, I wish to sincerely congratulate and extend felicitations to all my countrymen residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. At the same time, I salute all those, who struggled and laid down their lives to fulfill the dream of Pakistan.
On this very date the Pakistan Resolution was adopted in the historical city of Lahore with great fervor, aspirations and hopes. The Muslims of the subcontinent by adopting the Pakistan Resolution expressed their united will to create a separate homeland for them where they could live freely in accordance with the principles of their religion and in compatibility with their spiritual, political and cultural heritage. It is not less than a miracle that only within seven years of the adoption of Pakistan Resolution, the struggle for a separate homeland became a grand reality and Pakistan emerged on the world scene as the largest Muslim country on Aug. 14, 1947.
In this period the resolute and proud people of Pakistan have valiantly and gracefully withstood the challenges posed to them from both abroad and within the country to take Pakistan to a position of prominence among the comity of nations. No doubt there have been some shortcomings but none so great to retard our march toward progress and prosperity. The government of Pakistan under the sagacious leadership of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, president of Pakistan and Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Shaukat Aziz is well aware of the problems confronting the nation and is successfully implementing several policies with the prime objectives of reviving the economy, rooting out corruption, political restructuring and good governance. With these purposeful policies marked with sincerity of purpose and deep commitment, the nation can look forward to a stable and prosperous Pakistan.
Pakistan has emerged as a front-line state to combat international terrorism and the world community has lauded its role for peace. The leadership and people in Pakistan are committed to live in peace with their neighbors. Pakistan has made it repeatedly clear that we don’t harbor any aggressive designs against any entity. We will, however, take all measures necessary to ensure our national sovereignty and geographical integrity. We will not enter in any arms race and wish to solve our disputes with neighboring countries through sustained meaningful dialogue. We have adopted the same approach for the solution of Kashmir dispute also and offered dialogue anywhere, at any level and at any time. It is encouraging that the world community is increasingly realizing that a just and honorable solution of the Kashmir dispute in line with the UN resolutions guaranteeing right to self-determination to the Kashmiris is extremely important for the cause of peace and prosperity in South Asia.
On this auspicious occasion, I wish to appeal to my compatriots in the Kingdom to make best use of their abilities to further strengthen the cordial brotherly relations existing between the two countries and also fully contribute to the revival of national economy and other nation-building institutions in Pakistan. They should abide by Saudi laws and put extra hard work in their jobs in the Kingdom to which we owe a great deal.
At the end, I would like to emphasize that let us forget the setbacks and resolve to make every bid that we can, both at individual and collective levels to create a dynamic, prosperous, tolerant, nonviolent, nonsectarian and nonparochial true Islamic polity in Pakistan.
Masood Akhtar
Consul General of Pakistan