National Day Speech

H.E Mr. Radek Vondracek, President of the Chamber of Deputies
H.E Mr. Martin Tlapa Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
Mr. Oldrich Lomecki Mayor of Prague-1
Excellences, Ambassadors, Colleagues Friends, Ladies and Gentleman,

A very good evening to you and a very warm welcome to the festivities of Pakistan’s National Day.

Distinguished Guests,

Today we are celebrating the 78th National Day of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. And I congratulate Czech Republic on the centennial celebration of erstwhile Czechoslovak state.

I will start with the Statement of Father of the Nation

He said that:

‘The Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religious methods, social traditions, worship, lifestyle and literature. They neither intermarry nor inter-dine and indeed they belong to 2 different civilizations and societies which are based essentially in light of clashing thoughts and conceptions’.

The entire outlooks, traditions, lifestyle, worship, customs, and customs of cultures of these 2 nations were totally different to each other. They were distinctive in their religious convictions, as well as their whole way of life bore an alternate engraving.

The words of the great Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, father of the nation, in his presidential deliver to Muslim Leagues’s session conveyed a far more profound impact on the squashed and unsettled Muslims at the hands of ruthless and despotic Coition rule.

This two nation theory even today holds the truth as the war cry is cranking on our borders.

Having passed the Pakistan Resolution, the Muslims of Sub-Continent adjusted their definitive goal. Different leaders who were participating in the session of All-India Muslim League hung on March 23, 1940, letting in the Quaid-i-Azam, agreed that India was never joined together; rather it was part of Muslim India and Hindu India and it would remain so for ever.

On 23rd March 1940, the founding fathers of our nation envisioned creation of a separate homeland for Muslims dwelling in India, where they would be able to lead their lives in accordance with their own free will. Pakistan emerged as a state because of the Islamic consciousness of its people which had evolved over several centuries, nourished by the ideas of a number of rulers, religious leaders, scholars, thinkers and poets. In this long list, the poet-philosopher Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938) was more recent but, perhaps, the most influential exponent.

Just 07 years later, Pakistan came into existence due to strenuous efforts and tremendous sacrifices.

Today’s Pakistan is a flourishing democracy and the second largest Muslim nation with 207 million people and the majority of that population is between the ages of 16 to 35 years, the most productive of life, making it a formidable work force.

Pakistan has now become a trillion-dollar economy with a GDP growth rate of 5.7% according to World Bank and second only to few in South Asia. We have become the 25th nation to touch the trillion dollar mark i.e. the GDP is 1059 billion dollars.

We are the beginning of Silk Road when we talk of President Xi Jinping’s Road and Belt Initiative.

Let me share with you here that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor commonly known as CPEC is the game changer in the history of country as it has become the land of enormous opportunities.

The young nation of Pakistan has successfully won the global war against terror the scourge of 21st Century and we have been able to handle this menace as a frontline state and have vowed to erase it from the face of earth in unison with the friendly nations.

Today’s Pakistan is peaceful, peace loving and peace propagating, as it was before 1979.

It is a dynamic Pakistan.

At this great moment in history let us also not forget the plight of Kashmiri brethren who are fighting the tyranny of a hegemonic rogue state, we as nations must fight for the Human Rights of Kashmiris, who are being killed, raped and maimed just for asking their fundamental right.

It is the oldest item which remains unfinished on the agenda of United Nations, we as responsible members of the United Nations must strive and strive hard to resolve this issue through pacific means.

Distinguished Colleagues and Friends,

While delving on Pakistan-Czech relations, it elates me that we enjoy deep and cordial relations. Just three years after our independence we established diplomatic relations with the then Czechoslovakia, and till date we maintain it, and maintain it warmly.

Our cooperation extends deep into all spheres of bilateralism.

Czech Republic has been our trusted friend and ally in the war against terror and has been a great support during the times of natural calamities.

We are doing a lot together and it suffices to say that will leave no stone unturned in furthering these relations.

We have had the visit of minister for Defence Production and the eighth round of bilateral consultations recently concluded in Islamabad.

We signed agreement with Confederation of Industries and are negotiating the Transfer of Prisoners agreement.

Soon we will be having Skoda plying on our roads and we have started our first textile Mill in Czech Republic.

Last but not least, we have brought Pakistani and Czech music together as well as photographs presenting culture and landscape of Pakistan and Czech paintings under one roof to further cement our relations.

Thank you for your patience, participation and for joining us in our celebrations.