By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has extended his heartfelt greetings to Pakistanis at home and abroad on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day, saying the day was a reminder of the sacrifices that made Pakistan possible.
In his message on Independence Day, the president paid tribute to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leaders and workers of the Pakistan Movement, and all those who sacrificed their homes and livelihoods in the struggle for a homeland.
He said independence was not only a historic achievement but also a responsibility that each generation must carry forward.
President Zardari said the events surrounding Marka-e-Haq had demonstrated that Pakistan sought peace while also possessing the resolve and capacity to defend its sovereignty and national interests.
He paid tribute to the martyrs of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and police, and honoured the sacrifices of their families, saying their courage had helped safeguard the nation against external aggression and terrorism.
The president said Pakistan had effectively used its channels of communication, geographical location and diplomatic capital to encourage dialogue and de-escalation in the region at a time when wider conflict could have had serious consequences.
He said Pakistan believed that disputes, however serious, must ultimately be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, and that the country would continue to support efforts aimed at reducing tensions and protecting regional stability.
Calling on the nation to focus on the work that would shape Pakistan’s future, President Zardari said the country needed to strengthen its economy, create greater opportunities for its youth, improve education and skills, and pursue governance, economic and social reforms so that the benefits of development reached every part of the country.
He said Pakistan’s greatest strength was its young people, who were demonstrating their talent across science, technology, business, education and the creative industries, and it was the state’s responsibility to equip them with the education and opportunities to realise their potential.
The president said national progress must ultimately be judged by whether it improved the lives of ordinary Pakistanis, including young people finding careers, families accessing quality education and healthcare, and farmers, workers and businesses being able to plan for the future with confidence.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, President Zardari said Pakistan would continue to back a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and relevant UN resolutions.
Turning to Afghanistan, the president said Pakistan had always respected and supported its neighbour’s national sovereignty despite historical differences, and expected the same in return.
He said it was regrettable that the interim Afghan regime was allowing terror groups to use its soil to launch attacks against neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, and alleged that the Afghan Taliban regime was collaborating with India in carrying out terror attacks against Pakistani civilians and security personnel in an attempt to distract from Pakistan’s internationally recognised peace-building efforts.
“I warn them to stop these evil actions against the people of Pakistan,” the president said, asserting that the armed forces of Pakistan were capable of defeating these designs.
President Zardari called upon all Pakistanis to contribute to the country’s progress in their respective fields, and prayed for Allah Almighty’s protection and blessings for Pakistan, and for peace, prosperity and a better future for its people.
