AUCKLAND, Aug 18 (APP):New Zealand Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon on Tuesday lauded the Pakistani community’s contribution to the country’s economic, social and cultural development, amid appreciating Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s efforts to help de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. Addressing a ceremony marking Pakistan’s 80th Independence Day here, Prime Minister Luxon said Pakistan and New Zealand shared longstanding ties through their Commonwealth history and engagement in international …
PM Luxon Praises Pakistani Community’s Contributions ‘PM Shehbaz’s Peace Efforts
AUCKLAND, Aug 18 (APP):New Zealand Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon on Tuesday lauded the Pakistani community’s contribution to the country’s economic, social and cultural development, amid appreciating Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s efforts to help de-escalate tensions in the Middle East.
Addressing a ceremony marking Pakistan’s 80th Independence Day here, Prime Minister Luxon said Pakistan and New Zealand shared longstanding ties through their Commonwealth history and engagement in international and regional forums, including the United Nations, World Trade Organization and ASEAN Regional Forum.
The ceremony was organized by the Pakistan Association of New Zealand (PANZ), with the support of the Pakistan High Commission. Prime Minister Luxon and Pakistan High Commissioner to New Zealand Dr Faisal Aziz Ahmad jointly hoisted the national flag along with prominent members of the Pakistani community.
Recalling his recent conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Luxon said he had spoken to him about three months earlier to thank him for his efforts to broker peace between Iran and the United States and help address the wider conflict in the Middle East.
“He’s done an exceptionally good job,” the New Zealand prime minister said, adding that the conflict had caused immense suffering for people in the region and around the world.
He said New Zealand appreciated the efforts being made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to promote peace and de-escalation.
Addressing members of the Pakistani community, Prime Minister Luxon said around 8,100 Pakistanis were living across New Zealand and had made the country “a much better place.”
“You have made an enormous contribution to our nation,” he said, adding that New Zealand was “much better off economically, socially, and culturally” because of the Pakistani community.
He particularly acknowledged the community’s hard work and success, describing the immigrant experience of Pakistani New Zealanders as an inspiring story.
Several members of the New Zealand Cabinet attended the ceremony, including Minister for Ethnic Communities Mark Mitchell and Minister for Climate Change Simon Watts.
Opposition representatives included Labour Party Spokesperson for Ethnic Communities Jenny Salesa, Labour Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Vanushi Walters, and Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson, besides a number of National, Labour and Green Party parliamentarians.
In his welcome address, PANZ President Dr Asif Saeed Khan highlighted the Pakistani community’s role in New Zealand’s progress and development and its contribution to strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
A short documentary commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was also screened at the event, paying tribute to the founder of Pakistan and his enduring vision.
The ceremony reflected the close people-to-people ties between Pakistan and New Zealand and provided an opportunity for the Pakistani community to celebrate Independence Day while highlighting its growing role in New Zealand’s multicultural society.
