The Pakistani community living in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia celebrated the 65th Pakistan Independence Day with great zeal and fervor. Various functions were held here and in other cities of the Kingdom. According to the Muhammad Tariq, Press Consular at Consulate General Jeddah, the start of the day was solemnized with recitation from the Holy Qur'an and flag hosting ceremonies that took place simultaneously at Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh and its consulate in Jeddah. Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan unfurled the national flag, while people from all walks of life witnessed the ceremony. Messages of Pakistan's President and Prime Minster were read out. The Ambassador in his address, while congratulating the Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia, said it was a day to thank Allah for blessing us with independence. He said that Pakistan came into being on August 14, 1947 after a long struggle and historical scarifies by the country's forefathers for a separate homeland. He said that now it was the responsibility of Pakistanis to make their country an enlightened, tolerant, progressive and welfare state. The Ambassador added that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy excellent brotherly relations and Islam binds them into inseparable bonds of fraternity. He said the recent visit by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani to the Kingdom and their meeting with King Abdullah further enhanced understanding between the leadership of the two countries on regional and international issues. Consul General Abdul Salik Khan in his address in Jeddah said the creation of Pakistan was a great triumph for Muslims of the subcontinent. He said though Pakistan today was facing challenges on many fronts, it has nevertheless achieved encouraging milestones. He urged the Pakistanis residing in Saudi Arabia to dedicatedly work towards the economic and social development of the Kingdom and use their influence to further strengthen and deepen strategic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. __
