On Aug. 14, 2021, Pakistan celebrates its 75th Independence Day. The dream for an independent homeland for Muslims on the sub-continent was envisioned in the early 1930s by Allama Mohammad Iqbal, the national poet and thinker of world acclaim. The resolution, known as the Pakistan Resolution, demanding a separate homeland was tabled on March 23, 1940, in Lahore in a convention called by the Muslim League. Under the visionary leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, whose title is Quaid e
Azam (Great Leader), the dream was realized within a short span of seven years. On this day, Pakistanis reaffirm their resolve to make Pakistan a progressive modem state which plays its due role for global peace, stability, progress and prosperity.
Muhammad Asad (Leopold Weiss of Lviv) had participated in the making of Pakistan and contributed to the making of its constitution through his chairmanship of the Islamic Reconstruction Board.
Pakistan is one of the major contributors to United Nations peacekeeping efforts and stands for all causes of independence from Palestine to the liberation of illegally Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Consistent with its efforts to promote peace and stability in the region, Pakistan has supported a successful Afghan-U.S. dialogue which has brought an end to the decades-long war in Afghanistan. It strongly supports an intra-Afghan dialogue for power-sharing and elections.
Connectivity ushers development and prosperity
Pakistan as a national project, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is striving inter-regional rail, road connectivity, linking Central with South Asia, China with South Asia, Middle East and Africa. The first phase of the project has been completed. In the second phase, special economic zones where investors and entrepreneurs from all over the world can invest and freely repatriate profits and capital are being developed.
On this Independence Day Pakistan reaffirms its friendly bilateral relations with Ukraine. Pakistan recognized Ukraine immediately after its independence and since then bilateral relations have grown. The fact was noted in the Aug. 10 telephonic conversation between the foreign ministers of the two countries who resolved to make tangible progress in the field of economics and education. Pakistan and Ukraine are at historical crossroads and have a bright future ahead.
Noel I. Khokhar is Pakistan’s ambassador to Ukraine.
