Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday said August 14 was not merely a date but a symbol of faith, freedom, sovereignty and national resolve.
August 14: symbol of faith, freedom, national resolve: Gilani
ISLAMABAD, Aug 14 (APP): Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday said August 14 was not merely a date but a symbol of faith, freedom, sovereignty and national resolve.
Addressing the national Independence Day ceremony at the Convention Centre in Islamabad, he said the day reminded the nation of the historic struggle of Muslims of the subcontinent.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Barrister Danyal Chaudhry and other government officials attended the ceremony.
A large number of people, students and artists, also attended the event. Students and artists presented national songs on the occasion.
Gilani paid tribute to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and those who sacrificed their lives during the Pakistan Movement.
He also paid tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the security and defence of the country.
“The Pakistani nation is proud of its brave armed forces,” he said. He added that the entire nation stood with the armed forces in defending the country.
The chairman said women were a key force behind national development. He called for equal opportunities for women in education, healthcare, employment and economic empowerment.
He described the youth as Pakistan’s most valuable asset and future.
He stressed the need to provide them with education, skills and opportunities in science, technology and the digital economy.
Gilani said national unity, the rule of law, merit and justice were essential to overcoming the country’s challenges.
He said investment in industry, agriculture, exports and modern technology was necessary to strengthen the national economy.
Expanding opportunities in education, healthcare, employment and business was also vital for sustainable development, he added.
“Pakistan is not merely a piece of land but an ideology and a national commitment,” Gilani said.
He stressed that the law must be equal for all. He also called for protecting vulnerable people and respecting the rights of minorities.
The chairman said Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir represented the colours of Pakistan’s unity.
He said the country’s diverse languages, cultures and traditions were not a weakness but a national strength.
The chairman said Pakistan wanted peaceful relations with neighbouring and other countries based on cooperation and mutual respect.
He said Pakistan preferred dialogue, cooperation and diplomacy over war.
Gilani described the Makkah Defence Agreement as an important diplomatic and strategic achievement for Pakistan.
He said the agreement had created new opportunities for regional cooperation, confidence-building and collective security.
He said Pakistan’s diplomatic and defence successes were the result of the vision of its political and military leadership.
“Pakistan is moving forward under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir,” he said.
Gilani reiterated Pakistan’s support for the right to self-determination of the people of Kashmir.
He also said Pakistan would continue supporting justice, freedom and sovereignty for the oppressed people of Palestine.
He said the nation was committed to making Pakistan a strong, prosperous, peaceful, democratic and dignified country.
The chairman stressed that national interests must be kept above personal and political differences.
He called for strengthening the Constitution and democratic institutions while continuing the country’s journey towards development.
He said the Pakistani nation had always faced challenges with determination, courage and unity.
Gilani urged the nation to make Quaid-i-Azam’s principles of “Faith, Unity and Discipline” practical guiding principles of national life.
He concluded his address with a prayer for Pakistan’s stability, prosperity, peace and development.
At the end of the ceremony, Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani met with students and artists and posed for photographs with them.
