CHICAGO, Aug 14 (APP): Pakistan’s national flag was hoisted at Daley Centre, the City of Chicago’s premier civic centre, to mark the 70th anniversary of establishment of Pakistan before a large and distinguished gathering.
Consuls General of China and Turkey joined Pakistani-Americans to celebrate the event. Special messages were read out by representatives of Senator Mark Kirk, Congressman Boby Rush, Governor Bruce Rauner, Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, Mayor Roger Claar of Bolingbrook and Attorney General Lisa Madigan of Illinois.
In his remarks, Pakistan’s Consul General Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said despite many challenges of the past 70 years, Pakistan is a robust democracy with an economy that is on upswing.
With more than half of its population below the age of 30 years, Pakistan has a dynamic and vibrant generation of entrepreneurs, professionals and academics. Moreover, global financial markets expect Pakistan’s economy to show a massive turnover, he said.
Applauding Government’s policies for economic development and creating opportunities for foreign investment, Tirmizi invited the business community to invest in Pakistan, a country rich with investment friendly potential and world’s 26th largest economy in terms of purchasing power. The Consul General urged the young entrepreneurs and IT professionals, based in US, to take back their skills and investment to Pakistan.
Tirmizi lauded the role of “Pakistani animators”—specially Hameed Shaukat, Zafar Ali and Ms. Novira Masood—for their for much admired visual effects in movies Games of Throne, Life of Pi, Forzen, Transformers, X Men, Gravity and Godzilla.
He also referred to the fact that Pakistan Stock Exchange has just been upgraded to the status of Emerging Market by Morgan Stanley Commercial Index, a testimony to the strong economic and investment potential of the country. He further said that Pakistan is the only fourth country in Asia after Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong to make it to that
coveted status.
An Independence Day’s cake was cut by two Pakistan children who earned laurels in US swimming and polo events. The ceremony ended with a performance by local artists who sang patriotic song.
In general, the Pakistani community in the Midwest region celebrated their Independence Day with nationalistic pride. A series of celebrations is also being organized during the month of August in Cleveland, Kansas, Glendale Heights, Bolingbrook, Detroit and other cities in the Midwest with significant Pakistani diaspora.
