ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Day was celebrated with fervour at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on Wednesday.

An impressive flag-hoisting ceremony was held at the mission to mark the day, said a press release received here from New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Abdul Basit described Pakistan’s creation as a “miracle”, said the press release.

“Within seven years of the Lahore Resolution in 1940, Pakistan, under the sagacious leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, became a reality.

“Now it is our collective duty to turn Pakistan (into) the country envisaged by the Quaid,” he said.

Mr Basit said that Pakistanis should take pride in their country because despite heavy odds and several challenges it had made significant progress in many areas.

He said that Pakistan was destined to become a strong country.

Pakistan wanted to have normal relations with India on the basis of “mutual respect and mutual interest”, he said. “This is necessary not only for promoting bilateral cooperative relations but also regional stability.

“This is also necessary to resolve all our problems, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute....”

Earlier, Deputy High Commissioner Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani read out special messages from the president and the prime minister.

Students from the Pakistan High Commission School sang the national anthem and patriotic songs.

The High Commission also organised a reception for over 1,000 Indians and members of the diplomatic corps in New Delhi besides the Pakistan women’s cricket team.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2016