The Embassy of Pakistan in Brussels
organized an event to commemorate the 69th Death Anniversary of the
Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The event entitled
‘Quaid’s Vision for Pakistan’ took place at the Press Club Brussels Europe- a
forum for international media based in Brussels, says a press release received
here today from Brussels.
The
event was attended by the Pakistani community in large numbers, as well as
journalists and people from different walks of life representing various
nationalities. Pakistan’s Honorary Consul General in Ghent Ms. Karin Zoeter was the guest of honour at the
occasion.
In
his key note address on the subject Dr. Muqaddus Kazmi, from the University of
Manchester discussed various facets of
Quaid-i-Azam highlighting salient features of his vision for
Pakistan. He discussed the
characteristics of Quaid-i-Azam which made him a charismatic leader in true
sense. In his presentation Dr. Kazmi
elucidated Quaid’s inclusive vision and his practices for mainstreaming all the
segments of society.
He
quoted speeches of Quaid-i-Azam, emphasizing the role of women, youth and
minorities in the nation building. Dr Kazmi presented facts and figures showing
that under the able leadership of Quaid-i-Azam, within one year of its
creation, Pakistan achieved substantial economic growth and was able to
establish its own bank, the State Bank of Pakistan, which was inaugurated by
Quaid-i-Azam.
Mr.
Giyan Chand, Head of Chancery of the Embassy of Pakistan Brussels, read the
text of Quaid-i-Azam’s first presidential address to the Constituent Assembly
of Pakistan on 11th August 1947. In this address Quaid had set the
direction for the newly created country envisaging a society free of
discrimination on the basis of religion, sect, cast and creed.
In
his concluding remarks , Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Asif Hussain Memon, who
presided over the event , threw light on Quaid’s inclusive vision saying that
the life of our Father of the Nation
clearly depicts his vision for an egalitarian, democratic and progressive society. He said that
Quaid-i-Azam believed in merit and hard work.
He was against jobbery and nepotism.
A
documentary on the struggle of Quaid-i-Azam for the creation of Pakistan
produced by the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage was
also screened and a photographic exhibition of rare photographs of the Father
of the Nation particularly those of his struggle for Pakistan, was also
arranged by the Embassy of Pakistan.
Pakistani
origin youth residing in Belgium participated in the event with full fervour
and paid rich tributes to the Father of the Nation in the form of songs and a
short play. Shahbaz Ghani, Adil Sardar Ghani, Amna, Zara, Mohammad Ali and
Mohammad Hussain sang songs whereas Saba Kazmi and her group presented a short
play besides a song narrating the struggle of Quaid-i-Azam and paying tributes
to him. Pakistan’s Honorary Consul
General in Ghent Ms. Karin Zoeter distributed certificates and medals among the
young participants for their performances.
