Ambassador Khanzada addressing community members
By Ashraf Siddiqui/Doha
A large participation of families with children in traditional dresses was the highlight of Pakistan’s 72nd National Day celebrated yesterday at the embassy.
Pakistan ambassador Mohamed Sarfraz Khanzada hoisted the national flag at a ceremony in the morning. He congratulated the community and read messages from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Embassy’s consular section head Ashar Shahzad conducted the ceremony. Official Mohamed Afzal recited prayers for the prosperity, strength and unity of the Pakistani nation and community members living in Qatar.
Guests were served a traditional breakfast with freshly prepared puri and chana, topped off with halwa.
The ambassador hoisting the national flag
Ambassador Khanzada also interacted with the community members.
The day commemorates the passage of the Lahore Resolution, later called, the Pakistan Resolution, which eventually led to the creation of Pakistan.
In Pakistan, the day dawned with special prayers for the progress and prosperity of the country and with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salutes in provincial capitals.
President  Zardari, in his message on the occasion,  said: “On this day, let us resolve that we will not permit any dictator to usurp the basic fundamental rights of our people, nor allow them to trample on our democratic aspirations.”
He said: “This requires that we work in the spirit of tolerance, mutual accommodation and respect for dissent.”
Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan Day is not only an occasion of celebration but also an opportunity to reiterate pledge to keep working hard for the attainment of objectives contained in Pakistan Resolution.

A section of women and children at the event

“On this auspicious occasion, we pledge to uphold the supremacy of democracy and rule of law at every cost,” he added.
Cables of congratulations
HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani have sent cables of congratulations to the Pakistani president on the occasion of his country’s national day. HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani has also sent a cable of congratulations to the president on the occasion.