Pakistan, China term new chandelier at Quaid’s tomb a ‘symbol of strong Sino Pak friendship’

ISLAMABAD, Dec 16 (APP): Pakistan and China have termed the installation of new chandelier gifted by the latter for the mausoleum of Quaid e Azam as a “symbol of strong bond between the two countries”.
President Mamnoon Hussain in his message on the installation of the new chandelier, which he is going to inaugurate on Saturday, has expressed confidence that the symbolic significance of the chandelier would always remind the importance of Sino Pak relationship.
“The installation of new chandelier, a masterpiece of its own kind, at the last abode of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is a great occasion for the nation,” he said.
President Mamnoon said during the construction of Quaid’s mausoleum some 45 years ago, China had gifted a beautiful chandelier.
“During the whole four and half decades, the chandelier had been illuminating the mausoleum as a symbol of Pak China friendship,” he said.
He said due to environmental pollution and corrosive atmosphere of Karachi, the chandelier had lost its shine with the passage of time and the government of Pakistan decided to change it.
For this purpose, he said, a request was made to the Chinese government to assign some experts for this job, but
the Chinese government decided to do it on its own as a goodwill gesture.
The President thanked the Chinese leadership and especially Ambassador Sun Weidong for the chandelier.
Adviser to Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage Irfan Siddiqui in his message said the bond between Pakistan and China is unbreakable.
He said the friendship that the two countries have forged is beyond the spheres of defence, security, economy, trade, communication and nuclear power.
“Pakistan and China turned a new leaf when their friendship became more about cultural traditions,” he said.
He mentioned that when the time came to replace the existing chandelier, China, a true friend proposed to replace it and bear all costs from production to installation.
“The offer is a reflection of the indestructible bond between the two countries,” he said.
Irfan Siddiqi said he believed that the chandelier at the tomb would continue shedding light on the great bond between the two countries for generations to come.
Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong said the chandelier shows
the utmost respect for Quaid e Azam by the Chinese people and the deep rooted affection between two countries spanning more than half a century.
He said the year 2016 marks the 140th anniversary of the birth of Quaid e Azam and 65th anniversary of China Pakistan diplomatic relations.
“In this regard, the government of China has decided to provide a new chandelier to Mazar e Quaid with assistance gratis,” he said.
He said with the help of best designer and producer in China, this chandelier is now refurnished with brighter lightening and energy saving technology, while retaining its original shape.
“The new chandelier represents the light of friendship, mutual trust and cooperation shinning in our peoples’ hearts,” he said.
The Ambassador said the chandelier would serve as the inexhaustible sources of momentum for our future relations and would continue to be a beacon shedding light for a path towards a community of shared destiny.