ISLAMABAD: Impressive celebration ceremonies were organised in India and China on the occasion of Pakistan Day on Monday, highlighting the significance of the Lahore Resolution of March 23, 1940, which served as a touchstone for the Muslims of the subcontinent to strive for a separate homeland of their own.

Diplomatic staff, their families and Pakistani diaspora in the two host countries participated in the celebrations. Messages of the president, the prime minister and the deputy prime minister were read out during the ceremony.

Ambassador of Pakistan to China Khalil Hashmi hoisted the national flag at the embassy in Beijing and spoke to the people gathered for the celebration.

He extended his felicitations to the Pakistani community in China. He underscored the continuing significance of the three cardinal principles outlined by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah—Unity, Faith, and Discipline—as the fundamental pillars to pursue the mutually reinforcing national development and security agenda.

While recalling the time-tested friendship between Pakistan and China, Ambassador Hashmi noted the special salience of 2026 as an important milestone to celebrate the mutual progress achieved by Pakistan and China in the past 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

In line with national development priorities, the ambassador highlighted the embassy’s singular focus to mobilise investments in 21 priority sectors and integrating this effort with the harnessing of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) resources from China.

He also shared special focus on efforts to mobilise educational, research and business opportunities along with science and technology, frontier industries, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges.

Similarly, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi also organised a celebration ceremony to celebrate Pakistan Day in a befitting manner. Saad Ahmad Warraich, Chargé d’ Affaires of Pakistan to India, hoisted the national flag at an impressive ceremony held at the Chancery Lawns. Officers and staff of the high commission along with their families, attended the event.

In his address, the charge d’affaires described the 1940 Resolution as the definitive benchmark that inspired the subcontinent’s Muslims to strive for a sovereign state of their own.

In his remarks, the charge d’affaires said that the Lahore Resolution of 23 March 1940 served as a touchstone for the Muslims of the subcontinent to strive for a separate homeland of their own.

He said that under the inspiring leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, this collective aspiration found expression in the establishment of Pakistan within a short span of seven years.

Paying homage to the martyrs of the freedom movement, Mr Warraich emphasided that their exalted sacrifice serves as a living inspiration for the nation to uphold the precious gift of freedom and to make tireless efforts for the progress and prosperity of the country.

The charge d’ affaires underscored that the abiding lesson of history was that only those nations were truly free who were strong enough to defend their freedom. The entire world is witness to Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to preserve and protect its sovereignty and independence.

Hailing the role of the valiant armed forces in the defence of the motherland, Mr Warraich said that Pakistan’s established deterrence was not only a factor of stability in South Asia, but was also an assurance for regional peace.

The chargé d’affaires said that peaceful relations between Pakistan and India can only be established based on equality, mutual respect and peaceful settlement of all disputes.

He added that a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people was intrinsic to this end.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2026