ISLAMABAD: Presi­dent Mamnoon Hussain has greeted the nation on Pakistan Day and said the country was created as a result of a democratic struggle and “its survival and well-being also depend on democracy”.

In his message on Pakistan Day, the president expressed confidence that parliament, the people and all institutions would work in harmony to this end.

He said it was a matter of satisfaction that the nation was striving to address various challenges under a democratic dispensation.

“Let us pay tributes to the Quaid-i-Azam and other founding fathers who through their unwavering resolve, iron will and unprecedented commitment to their cause brought the Muslims of the subcontinent under a platform and created a separate homeland for them,” he said.

In his message, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, vowed to make Pakistan a modern and developed state in conformity with the vision of the Quaid-i-Azam.

“We have to make collective endeavours to build Pakistan into a state where all citizens have equal rights and all regions of the country enjoy the fruits of development.”

He said, “Today the nation has to renew its pledge and once again we have to make Pakistan a modern and developed state in conformity with the vision and thinking of the Quaid.”

He said it was implied in the Pakistan Resolution that Pakistan after coming into being would transform into a national state where all the citizens would enjoy equal rights.

He said work on the epoch-making projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was in full swing, which had unleashed a process of progress and reconstruction in Balochis­tan and added, “The day was not far off when, God willing, the province would join the developed areas of the country.”

In his message, Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa called upon the entire nation saying “Let us pledge today to clean ‘our Pakistan’ from fasaadis’.”

According to a tweet by Inter-Services Public Rela­tions Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor, the COAS said, “We pledged to create Pakistan. We honourably succeeded in creation of our homeland. Let us pledge again today that we shall clean our country from fasaadis”.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...