JEDDAH: The Consulate General of Pakistan held a community meeting to observe the country’s 50th Defense Day on Sunday. Speakers paid tribute to martyrs who gave their lives to protect the country during the 1965 war.

Pakistan Consul General Aftab A. Khokher welcomed the guests and community members and said: “Today we need same patriotic feelings and emotions to overcome all the obstacles and problems that the nation is facing in these hard times.

“Today, we have gathered to observe our patriotic feelings and pay tribute to the martyrs who gave their lives for the nation; they protected the borders of the country so we civilians can live peacefully. This is the day for renewal of our pledge of protection and progress of the country. We were united at that time and today also we need to be united to fight against our enemies as Pakistan is our recognition in the whole world.

“Everyone from all strata of society should stay together and strengthen the country so the nation can progress, and keep peace in the country and in the neighboring regions.

“Pakistan is on the path of progress. Today the war which we were fighting at the borders is going on inside the country. Zarb-e-Azab is fighting against the terrorists and enemies of the country; Courts, Parliament, Media and the army are all together fighting against our enemies and we have already started the journey of progress and development. Karachi is getting back to normal life.”

He recalled the help of the Saudi Ittihad Football Club in 1965 when it collected funds for the people of Pakistan during the war. “The bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is historic. The Kingdom and its people were always with Pakistan. We are also with the Kingdom and its people through thick and thin, and hope and pray our bilateral relationship will always be strong,” he said.

The leaders of different organizations and forums, namely Faisal Bukhari from Pakistan Economy Forum; Parvez, leader of the Christian community, Dr. Jawaid Khan from Doctors Forum, Aleem Khan from Pakistan Engineers Forum, Masood Puri from Kashmir Committee, Shahed Nayeem from Pakistan Journalists Fourm and Khalil ur Rahman from Pakistan Welfare Society delivered speeches and paid tribute to the martyrs.

Athar Abbasi, head of Aalami Urdu Markaz in Jeddah and Naeem Hamid Ali Al-Hamid, founder and owner of first Urdu library in Jeddah, presented poems penned for the occasion.