The Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C., marked the 79th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence today with a dignified flag-hoisting ceremony, celebrating the nation's resilient journey, honoring its founding father and reaffirming the time tested strength of the Pakistan-U.S. partnership.
Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh hoisted the national flag to the tunes of the national anthem before an audience of Pakistani American community members, diplomatic officials, and media representatives.
The ceremony commenced with recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by official messages from the President, Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan emphasizing national unity and a shared commitment to progress.
In his keynote address, Ambassador Sheikh described Pakistan as a "miracle of history" forged through the heroic freedom struggle of its founding generation.
"Pakistan is a reality today because of the sacrifices rendered by our forefathers during that seven-year struggle—by those who migrated to Pakistan, leaving behind their homes, businesses, and families to build a new homeland," Ambassador Sheikh said.
A historic milestone of the celebration was the unveiling of a statue of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to mark his upcoming 150th birth anniversary. Expressing gratitude to the Quaid-e-Azam Foundation of Houston for donating the statue, Ambassador Sheikh paid tribute to the founder's visionary leadership.
Coinciding with the 150th birth anniversary of Quaid, the statue would now form a permanent display at the Embassy’s premises.
"Today, on the completion of 79 years of independence, the entire nation is grateful to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, whose constitutional struggle and tireless work made the dream of Pakistan a reality," the Ambassador noted. "The inspiring leadership of Quaid-e-Azam united the Muslims of the subcontinent under one flag and blessed us with freedom." He urged the Pakistani diaspora to embody the Quaid’s foundational principles of Unity, Faith, and Discipline to ensure a prosperous future.
Turning to domestic affairs, Ambassador Sheikh highlighted key economic turnarounds achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
"Pakistan’s economic outlook is clearly improving," Ambassador Sheikh reported.
The Ambassador also acknowledged the sacrifices of the nation's security institutions in maintaining national stability.
"On this Independence Day, we pay rich tribute to our armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and police, who make selfless sacrifices every day for the protection of the motherland," he added.
Addressing bilateral relations, Ambassador Sheikh reaffirmed that ties between Islamabad and Washington remain on a positive, ascendant trajectory. He noted the structural importance of Pakistan on the global stage.
"Pakistan is important to the world. Our history is important, our geography is important, our stability is important, our defense is important, and our diplomacy is important," Ambassador Sheikh observed.
Recalling statements from U.S. leadership, the Ambassador emphasized shared strategic and economic objectives.
"As Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted, 'We want a strategic partnership with Pakistan entrenched in economic ties,'" Ambassador Sheikh stated. "Each time our two countries have come together, we have produced success not only for ourselves, but for the wider world."
During the event, an elegant investiture ceremony was also held to confer the prestigious President's Award for Pride of Performance upon Mr. Waqar Ali Khan for his outstanding service to Pakistan. Over four decades, Mr. Khan has served as a dynamic community leader and cultural ambassador across the United States.
Concluding his address, Ambassador Sheikh praised the Pakistani-American diaspora as the nation's "true strength" and extended an open call for collaborative diplomacy.
"Let’s team up for Pakistan," Ambassador Sheikh urged. "Each Pakistani here in the United States is an ambassador. I delegate full power to you to work for strengthening our bilateral ties. Long live Pak-America friendship; long live Pakistan."
