ISLAMABAD: On Independence Day, President Arif Alvi reaffirmed that Pakistan is an emerging nation which is on the course of rapid development.
The president was addressing the flag-hoisting ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad which is the main feature of Independence Day celebrations. President Dr Arif Alvi, who was the chief guest at the event, congratulated the nation on the completion of 74 years of Independence.
Addressing the ceremony, he said the country is on the right direction and is all set to become a strong nation. He stressed the need to inculcate hope in the nation and reject all sorts of negative propaganda and fake news against the country.
He paid tribute to the leaders of the freedom movement, including Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan, and Allama Iqbal, “Today we realise the difficulties that were faced in the course of freedom,” he said. “It is due to their sacrifices that we are here today,” he said.
President Arif Alvi recalled that the country achieved major successes in different fields and surmounted many challenges ever since its independence.
He pointed out that Pakistan successfully tackled the menace of terrorism and our security forces, society and the people deserve appreciation for defeating terrorism. “There is an ongoing race for weapons in the region and Pakistan has been trapped,” he said, addressing that three wars were forced upon us in history.
He said Pakistan managed to meet its food requirements and was now on the way to becoming an industrial country and was also making advancements in the area of information technology. He said Pakistan had the potential to become a developed country and encouraged citizens to work towards it.
Recounting Pakistan’s accomplishments of the past years, the president said when India conducted a nuclear explosion in 1974, Pakistan managed to create a nuclear deterrent within just seven years.
The president said Pakistan had been fighting terrorism after the situation worsened in Afghanistan and came out victorious. He lauded Pakistan’s armed forces and police for bravely fighting against terrorism.
The president further stated that “we all are witnesses the nations claiming to be the champions of human rights. They let refugees drown in seas and rivers but don’t give them refuge. Pakistan gave refuge to 3.5 million refugees.”
The president also appreciated the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and launching the Ehsaas programme. “Our success against the coronavirus is our strength,” he said, adding that the country battled the pandemic while its economy also progressed.
The president also drew the attention of the international community towards India’s atrocities in occupied Kashmir and expressed solidarity with the people of the valley. President Alvi also called for peace in Afghanistan and said he was hopeful that peace would be restored in the country.
