The Diplomat
Last Monday, the Embassy of Pakistan in Madrid held a flag-raising ceremony to commemorate Pakistan Day.
According to a statement from the Pakistani Embassy, Ambassador Dr. Zahoor Ahmed raised the flag to the sound of the national anthem. Messages from the President, Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan were read by Omer Manzoor Malik, Deputy Chief of Mission; Ali Asghar, Commercial Counselor; and Nimra Naeem, Third Secretary, respectively. “In his speech,” the statement notes, “the Ambassador of Pakistan extended warm greetings to Pakistanis around the world on the occasion of Pakistan Day and paid tribute to the sacrifices of the nation’s founding fathers in the struggle for independence. The Ambassador thanked the Pakistani community in Spain for their hard work, dedication, and contribution to Pakistan’s economy, emphasizing that Pakistanis living abroad are true representatives of the nation and play a vital role in its progress. He called for unity and collective effort to build a strong, vibrant, and dynamic society.”
Regarding relations with Spain, the Embassy statement notes that the Pakistani ambassador affirmed: “Pakistan and Spain, while located in different regions, share similar perspectives on many important global issues, including human rights, education and women’s economic empowerment, and the urgent challenge of climate change. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and stated that Pakistan will continue to raise its voice in defense of justice, human dignity, and international law, both in Kashmir and in Palestine. He also extended his best wishes to the Pakistani community on the occasion of the upcoming Eid and Nowruz festivities and thanked Senator Vicente Azpitarte and Senator Antonio Limones for attending the ceremony.”
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Pakistani poet, philosopher, and politician Allama Iqbal, the Embassy’s Third Secretary, Khizar Farooq, spoke about Iqbal’s vision of Pakistan. Mahnoor Omer Malik, a young Pakistani student, also gave a speech on the importance of the Pakistan Resolution. In recognition of their achievements, the ambassador presented plaques to Zeeshan Cheema (captain of the Reyes del Arganda team) for winning the European Cricket Series; to Dr. Muhammad Asad for obtaining an outstanding doctorate from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM); and to Celia Aguinaldo for her 15 years of service at the Embassy.
In addition, Madrid’s iconic Cibeles Fountain, located in front of the historic Cibeles Palace, was illuminated in green and white in honor of Pakistan Day.
