Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that August 14 is not merely a date on the calendar but a symbol of faith, freedom, sovereignty, democracy and national resolve, reminding the nation of the historic struggle and immense sacrifices that culminated in the creation of Pakistan under the visionary leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Addressing the National Independence Day Ceremony at the Convention Centre, Islamabad, Chairman Senate extended heartfelt felicitations to the nation and paid rich tribute to the Founding Fathers, leaders and workers of the Pakistan Movement, as well as the millions who endured the hardships of displacement and sacrificed for the creation of Pakistan.
He also paid glowing tribute to the martyrs of the Armed Forces and law-enforcement agencies, acknowledging their sacrifices for the defence, security, peace and sovereignty of the country. He said the Armed Forces had stood by the nation in every difficult hour, rendering exemplary services in defending the frontiers, combating terrorism, maintaining internal security and responding to natural disasters.
Paying tribute to the country’s civil and military leadership, Chairman Senate said that under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan was advancing its national interests and strengthening its role as a responsible member of the international community. He described the Makkah Defence Agreement as an important diplomatic and strategic development that had opened new avenues for regional cooperation, mutual trust and collective security.
Chairman Senate said Pakistan was facing complex challenges, including economic pressures, unemployment, energy and water scarcity, climate change, terrorism, healthcare, education and institutional reform. National unity, constitutionalism, rule of law, merit, justice and strong institutions, he stressed, were essential to overcoming these challenges and securing sustainable national progress.
He emphasised that Pakistan’s future depended on investment in human capital, education, healthcare, agriculture, industry, exports, SMEs, technology and the digital economy, with particular focus on equipping the youth with quality education and skills to become innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators.
He said that Pakistan’s strength lay in the equal dignity and participation of all its citizens, including religious minorities, farmers, labourers, women and other segments of society, whose contributions to the country’s development must be recognised, protected and strengthened.
Highlighting Pakistan’s diversity as a source of strength, he said Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir form an integral part of the national fabric. Their diverse languages, cultures and traditions, he said, should serve as a source of unity and collective strength.
On foreign policy, Chairman Senate reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful, respectful and mutually beneficial relations with all countries, particularly its neighbours. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued moral, political and diplomatic support for the right to self-determination of the people of Kashmir and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to an independent and sovereign state.
Calling upon the nation to renew its collective resolve, Chairman Senate said that national interests must rise above personal and political differences, while the Constitution, democratic institutions and rule of law must remain the foundations of the State. He said Pakistan had overcome numerous challenges in the past through courage, resilience and unity and could do so again through the same national spirit.
He emphasised that the Quaid-e-Azam’s motto of Faith, Unity and Discipline must be transformed from national ideals into a practical guiding force for Pakistan’s future.
Earlier, Chairman Senate participated in the Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony at Pakistan Monument, Islamabad, and hoisted the national flag. He paid tribute to the Founding Fathers, leaders of the Pakistan Movement and martyrs of the independence struggle, reaffirming his commitment to the progress, prosperity, peace and stability of Pakistan.
