JEDDAH — “Youm e Pakistan (Pakistan Day)” was celebrated with zeal by Halqa e Danish recently at Rahma Banquet Hall. About 100 selected VIPs and socialites from Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Taif, Rabigh, Yanbu, and Riyadh participated in the event. The event was presided by Tahseem ul Haq Haqqi, Consul Welfare at Pakistan Consulate. Abu Ahmed Akif, Director General Haj, and Rohail Khan were guests of honor. The three-hour event proved highly innovative and enriching. Master of Ceremony and President Halqa e Danish Ashfaq Badayuni initiated the proceedings with the recitation of a few verses from the Qur'an followed by a Naat, Kalam e Iqbal. Emotions ran high and many hearts cried when all stood up and collectively recited “Pakistan's Qoumi Tarana.” Tahseem Haqqi went to each person one by one and pinned the Pakistan Flag on every one's chest and collar. Patriotic Pride was elevated when Mukhtar Ali and Anwar Hussain recited the famous tarana “Yeh Watan Tumhara Hai, Tum ho Pasbaan Iss Kay.” Selected VIP guests came on the rostrum and read out excerpts from books about the Pakistan movement and ideology. National heroes Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam were remembered with utmost respect and reverence. The audience warmly appreciated the brief elocution presented by Ashfaq Badayuni, Mukhtar Ali, Dr. Tauqir Haider, Zawwar Abedi, Dr. Mahmud Iqbal, Mohsin Alvi, Khalid Kathoriya, Hamid Islam Khan, Riyaz Bukhari, Mohammad Bilal, Abu Ahmed Akif, Rohail Khan, and Tahseem Haqqi. Notable elite guests of the event included Muhammad Bilal, principal, Pakistan International School; Riyaz Bukhari, president, Pakistan Peoples Party; Chaudhry Iftikhar, president, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf; Sheeraz Abbasi, youth ambassador; Mutahir Rizvi, president, Pakistan Executives Group; Mansur Shivani, vice president, MASA; Tayyab Moosani, general secretary, Memon Welfare Society; Nawaz Janjua, general secretary, Pakistan Welfare Society; Mubassir Azam, Islamic Development Bank; Ahmed Farooqi, chairman, Farooqi Media Group; Jawad Shah, partner, Microsoft; Asim Zia, BDM, Rajab Silsilah Group; Shaikh Luqman, Aziz Ahmed, Mujeeb Hasan, Asif, Amanatullah, Rasheed Kashmiri, Ahmed Mehroom, Amin Najmi, Aseem Hanif, Shariq Islam, XM Pro Group; Abdulrahman Baig, Musarrat Khalil, senior journalist, Saudi Gazette; Chaudhry Yusuf Ibrahim, chairman, CCO Group. — SG
