Consulate General of Pakistan in Chicago celebrates Pakistan National Day

Chicago IL: Consul General of Islamic Republic of Pakistan Zaheer Pervaiz Khan hosted a reception to celebrate the 73rd Pakistan National Day with Diplomats, Chicago land entrepreneurs, community leaders, journalists, and eminent citizens to honor the sacrifices of Pakistan’s freedom fighters and to commemorate Founding Father Jinnah, for giving them a country where individual dignity and religious freedom is assured for all citizens. This event was held on Saturday, March 23, 2013 evening at Holiday Inn Oakbrook, 17 West 350 22nd Street, Oakbrook Terrace, IL. There was a full house of over 400 participants.

The event was part of celebrations Pakistanis observed across the world on 23rd March to commemorate passage of Lahore Resolution in 1940, which laid the foundation for the creation of Pakistan. Americans politicians among the invited guests included Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, Illinois Finance Policy & Operations Director Sohair Omer, City Comptroller of Office of Chicago Mayor Amer Ahmad, and Immigrant Assistance Program Coordinator Nettie Lasko. Many members of the diplomatic community in Chicago also attended.

The function began with recitation from the Holy Qur’an by Mansoor Ahmed followed by welcome speech by Samreen Khan. Mr. Zaheer Pervaiz Khan saluted the Pakistan flag. National anthems of Pakistan and USA were sung by Midha Imam, Dr. Azra Haque and Mrs. Arain. According to the press release, Mr. Zaheer Pervaiz Khan’s speech covered Pakistan’s continued progress and achievements against all odds and obstacles. He concluded his address by thanking all the guests and reading out messages from the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan as summarized below.

The historic resolution, now known as the Pakistan Resolution, was approved on march 23, 1940 and called for the creation of an independent state consisting of the Muslim majority areas of united India. The Prime Minister hailed March 23 as a landmark when Muslims of the subcontinent adopted the Lahore Resolution that heralded the struggle to achieve Pakistan. This Pakistan Resolution was a great demonstration of unity by the Indian Muslims in their zeal for a separate homeland and provided them meaningful direction.

Addressing the Muslim Students Federation on March 2, 1941, Quaid-i-Azam said, “The only solution for the Muslims of India, which will stand the test of trial and time, is that India should be partitioned so that both the communities can develop freely and fully according to their own genius economically, socially, culturally and politically.”

The independent state would allow them to freely live their individual and collective life according to their traditions. Now that an independent, sovereign, and democratic country, has been achieved. The PM stressed the trajectory of development and prosperity to realize the dream for which the forefathers had sacrificed so much. A democratic government that has achieved the milestone of completing its constitutional tenure is a great leap forward towards parliamentary elections and towards fair, free, and transparent polls in the country. The PM expressed his confidence that people would elect the best leadership in the forthcoming polls.

Consul General Mr. Zaheer Pervaiz Khan went on to read the message addressed to the people by Pakistan President Asif All Zardari that also began with historical significance of the democratically elected Parliament and government completing, for the first time, its constitutionally mandated term, “a watershed mark and a giant leap forward in the nation’s quest for democracy, federalism and constitutionalism for which Pakistan was created.”

Greeting the entire nation on Pakistan Day, which he described as “the expression of the collective will of the Muslims of the subcontinent a reminder of their unity of thought in search of their common destiny,” he urged the people to rededicate themselves to upholding these founding principles. He also called on them to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and to all those who struggled, suffered and sacrificed for the cause. Created through democratic struggle, Pakistan depends on democracy for its survival and well-being. “It is a manifestation of the democratic ethos of our people that the elected Parliament first purged the Constitution of dictatorial clauses and then completed its full five year term.”

“Let us on this day resolve that we will not permit anyone to trample on democratic aspirations of the people. This requires that we work in the spirit of tolerance, mutual accommodation, and respect for dissent. It also requires that the Parliament, the people and all institutions of the state will work in harmony. May Allah bless us in our efforts to prove ourselves worthy inheritors of the homeland and heritage bequeathed to us by our forefathers,” he concluded.

Consul General, Zaheer Khan, also informed that Pakistan International Airlines was resuming its twice weekly flights from Chicago to Lahore & Karachi via Barcelona from June 5th, 2013. He requested the Pakistani Community to support the airline.

Snacks and soft drinks were followed, for dinner, by carrot halwa and a variety of Pakistani dishes, including lamb and chicken curry, pakora, chutneys, along with vegetarian fare.

Chairman of Asian Media USA Suresh Bodiwala expressed his appreciation for this opportunity to learn the Consul General’s perspective on Pakistan National Day. He felicitated all present and the entire South Asian diaspora, commenting that “on this significant day, we would like to encourage compassion, non-violence, and goodwill that may always flow in unison”.

About Pakistan International Airlines
1) PIA to commence operations from Chicago with two weekly flights to KHI/LHE/ISB via Barcelona every Wednesday & Saturday starting June 05, 2013.
2) We offer competitive fares.
3) PIA is the only airline that flies directly from Chicago to Barcelona.
4) Now you can explore Barcelona onboard Boeing 777, with flights departing twice a week every Wednesday and Saturday.
5) We offer 02 pieces as checked in baggage weighing 28kgs per piece.