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FLAG HOISTING CEREMONY TO MARK 67TH INDEPENDENCE DAY OF PAKISTAN HELD AT PAKISTAN HOUSE (CONSUL GENERAL RESIDENCE) SYDNEY AUSTRALIA ON 14 AUGUST

 

MR ABDUL AZIZ UQAILI, CONSUL GENERAL OF PAKISTAN BASED IN SYDNEY, RAISED PAKISTANI FLAG AND LED SPECIAL PRAYERS IN MOSMAN SYDNEY

 SYDNEY,14 August, 2013: It was a bright sunny morning and a very pleasant weather in Sydney when at 10.30 am, on the occasion of 67th Independence Day, Pakistani flag was hoisted for the first time in the history in PAKISTAN HOUSE at 5 Ryrie Street, Mosman (Sydney), NSW, Australia. Mr. Abdul Aziz Uqaili, the Consul General of Pakistan, who recently assumed his responsibilities in Sydney, laid the foundation of an essential and much desired tradition of holding a formal ceremony to mark our independence day.

Despite being a working day, a large number of Pakistanis, working and residing in different parts of Sydney / New South Wales, appreciated the invitation of the Consul General and participated in the ceremony. It was an open invitation to all Pakistanis in Australia, which was announced, in all leading newspapers and magazines, being published from Sydney. The participation from various regions and provinces of the country and different sections of Pakistani society was significantly noticed and applauded.

The ceremony started on time at 10.20 am with the recitation from the Holy Quran by Maulana Nazeerul Hassan Thanvi followed by the flag hoisting which was performed by Consul General, Mr. Abdul Aziz Uqaili, along with other Pakistani diplomats and community members.

Mr. Shifaat Ahmed Kaleem, Consul and Mr. Balakh Sher Khosa, Counsellor Welfare respectively read the Independence Day messages of the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion,Mr.Abdul Aziz Uqaili, lauded the invaluable services of expatriate Pakistanis for supporting Pakistan and its economy particularly through their forex remittances. He apprised the community about the latest initiatives of the Consulate General of Pakistan particularly the facility of preparation of Machine Readable Passports (MRP) from Sydney; the declaration of Pakistan as one of the few source countries for import of Pakistani mangoes in Australia; presence of a Counsellor Welfare to extend welfare services to the community; and the most important was the provision of a mobile phone number (0469-901472) for emergency consular services needed during off time (other than office hours). The Consul General also appreciated support of the community members in making Consulate’s initiatives and endeavours successful. He informed the community that, since the day he took over, he is following an open door policy in the Consulate premises, besides reaching out to the community in their public programmes or other events. He stressed the need to remain united and shun petty differences for the sake of country and our nation.

After the speech of the Consul General, a loyal Pakistani poet from Hazara community of Quetta Mr. Sadiq Saba recited a wonderful national poem, composed particularly for the auspicious national day occasion. Maulana Thanvi offered prayers (dua) for integrity and solidarity of Pakistan and the nation. Finally, Pakistani children, clad in colourful Pakistani constumes, performed on a national song “mein bhee Pakistan hoon too bhee Pakistan hey”, and enthralled the audience. In the end, traditional morning cuisine Halwa Poori and Kashmiri tea was served to all the guests.

 

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