KARACHI, Aug 12: Federal Education Minister Zobaida Jalal said on Tuesday that Pakistan’s emergence as a state was the result of a sustained struggle of the Muslims of the subcontinent and the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of a seminar on “Pakistan ideology — road map to development and prosperity,” she said the moving spirit behind the struggle for a homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent was the ideology of Pakistan. She said it was the unifying bond for the Muslims of undivided India. The seminar was organized by the Pakistan Study Centre, University of Sindh.

Ms Jalal said the services rendered by other heroes like Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sir Aga Khan, the Johar brothers, Allama Mohammad Iqbal, Liaquat Ali Khan, Sir Abdullah Haroon, Sardar Abdul Rab Nishter, Fatima Jinnah, Qazi Essa and Mir Jafar Khan Jamali were also unforgettable.

She said the genesis of Pakistan was rooted in its ideology and it was the source of inspiration for the development and prosperity of the people.

She said Pakistan had a strategic location coupled with natural resources, versatile landscape and climate and the rich potential of the people.

Former Balochistan governor F.S. Lodhi, Dr N.A. Baluch, Prof Sharifal Mujahid, Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqui, Shireen Naqvi, Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui, Qutubuddin Aziz, Dr Iqbal Ali, Prof Chand Bibi Sultana Bakhtiarzai and Sindh University Vice-Chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui also spoke.—APP