Independence Day Symbolizes Faith, Freedom, Sovereignty and National Resolve, Says Senate Chairman

ISLAMABAD, August 14: Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that August 14 is not merely a date on the calendar but a symbol of faith, freedom, sovereignty, democracy and national resolve, reminding the nation of the historic struggle and immense sacrifices that led to the creation of Pakistan under the visionary leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Addressing a national Independence Day ceremony at the Convention Centre in Islamabad, the Senate chairman extended heartfelt greetings to the nation and paid tribute to the founders, leaders and workers of the Pakistan Movement. He also paid homage to the millions of people who endured the hardships of migration and made immense sacrifices for the establishment of Pakistan.

Gilani paid rich tribute to the martyrs of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, appreciating their sacrifices for the defence, security, peace and sovereignty of the country. He said the armed forces had stood by the nation in every difficult hour and rendered exemplary services in defending the country’s borders, fighting terrorism, maintaining internal security and conducting relief operations during natural disasters.

Paying tribute to the country’s civil and military leadership, the Senate chairman said that under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan was strengthening its role as a responsible member of the international community while safeguarding its national interests.

He described the Makkah Defence Agreement as an important diplomatic and strategic development, saying it had opened new avenues for regional cooperation, mutual trust and collective security.

The Senate chairman said Pakistan was facing complex challenges, including economic pressures, unemployment, energy and water shortages, climate change, terrorism, healthcare, education and institutional reforms. He stressed that national unity, constitutionalism, rule of law, merit, justice and strong institutions were essential to overcome these challenges and achieve sustainable national development.

He said Pakistan’s future was closely linked to investment in human resources, education, healthcare, agriculture, industry, exports, small and medium-sized enterprises, technology and the digital economy. He called for special focus on equipping young people with quality education and modern skills so they could become innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators.

Gilani said Pakistan’s real strength lay in the equal dignity and effective participation of all its citizens, including religious minorities, farmers, workers, women and other segments of society. Their contribution to national development, he said, needed to be recognized, protected and further strengthened.

Describing Pakistan’s diversity as a national strength, he said Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir were integral parts of the national unity. Their diverse languages, cultures and traditions should serve as a source of collective strength and unity.

Referring to foreign policy, the Senate chairman reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful, dignified and mutually beneficial relations with all countries, particularly its neighbours. He also reiterated Pakistan’s continued moral, political and diplomatic support for the right to self-determination of the people of Kashmir and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to an independent and sovereign state.

Calling upon the nation to renew its collective resolve, Gilani said national interests must be placed above personal and political differences, while the Constitution, democratic institutions and rule of law must remain the foundation of the state.

He said Pakistan had overcome numerous challenges in the past through courage, perseverance and unity and could overcome the difficulties facing the country today through the same national spirit.

The Senate chairman stressed that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s golden principle of “Faith, Unity and Discipline” should not remain merely a national motto but should serve as a practical guiding principle for Pakistan’s future.

Earlier, Gilani attended the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Pakistan Monument in Islamabad on the occasion of Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day and hoisted the national flag. He paid tribute to the founders of Pakistan, leaders of the Pakistan Movement and martyrs of the freedom struggle, reaffirming his commitment to the country’s progress, prosperity, peace and stability.