WASHINGTON, March 23: Impressive ceremonies were held in Pakistan missions abroad, including Washington, New York, Beijing, Tokyo, New Delhi, Tehran, Ankara, Dhaka, Geneva and Hanoi to mark the 67th anniversary of Pakistan Day on Friday.

An impressive flag-hoisting ceremony was held here at the premises of Pakistan Embassy on Friday to mark the 67th Pakistan Day. Ambassador Mahmud Ali Durrani raised the national flag.

In Beijing, China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai and Ambassador Salman Bashir cut a cake at a reception held here to mark the national day celebrations.

In Tokyo, Pakistan’s Ambassador Kamran Niaz conferred Sitara-i-Khidmat on Mrs Masami-Hasegawa and Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam on Prof Hiroshi Kagaya at an investiture ceremony here.

In Tehran, the day was celebrated with enthusiasm at an impressive ceremony held at the Pakistan International School. The function commenced with the hoisting of flag by Charge d’Affaires, Zaheer Pervaiz Khan. The Iranian television also telecast Ambassador Shafkat Saeed’s message. In a separate interview, Ambassador Saeed highlighted bilateral relation between Iran and Pakistan and said that the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project would further expand economic ties between the two countries.

In New Delhi, an impressive ceremony marked the Pakistan Day at the Pakistan High Commission. Shahid Malik, Pakistan’s High Commissioner hoisted the flag at a graceful ceremony.

Pakistan’s High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh, celebrated the day with solemnity. A programme was organised in which Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Bangladesh Alamgir Babar hoisted the national flag.

In Geneva, Pakistan Day was celebrated at the Pakistan Permanent Mission in a simple but dignified ceremony. After the flag-hoisting held at the chancery, Ms Tehmina Janjua, acting permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva, read out messages from the president and the prime minister.—APP