**** Press Release ****

  - For Immediate Release & Distribution -

PAKISTAN DAY MARCH 23, 2007 CHICAGO USA

March 23, 2007

(Chicago, Illinois, 23/03/07) Pakistan Day was celebrated in the Pakistan Consulate General, 333 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago – Illinois USA with the participation of Pakistani Americans, community leaders, students and media personnel. Pakistani students studying in US universities under the Fulbright Scholars programme were also present on the occasion.

The Consul General Mr. Aetijaz Ahmed presonally greeted the audience on this auspicious day and read the messages of the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Pakistan. These are as follows:

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's Message on Pakistan-Day 2007

 Today we are celebrating the 67th anniversary of the Pakistan Resolution. On this day in 1940, in a resolution adopted in Lahore by the All-India Muslim League, the Muslims of India vowed to strive for a homeland of their own. Under the inspiring and matchless leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, they succeeded in creating a new state for ordering their lives compatible with their religious, social, political and cultural aspirations.

Our ideological strength lies in our firm adherence to Islam and our progress and prosperity depend on the cherished principles of Unity, Faith & Discipline, the motto given by the Father of the Nation. Let me add that by acting on this motto, conscientiously and sincerely, we can hope to build our future on the lines visualized in the momentous Pakistan Resolution.

Today we have to remember that the Quaid's motto was for everyone in Pakistan the rich and the poor, the ruler and the ruled, women as much as men, young as well as old; and, of course, all the provinces and regions of the country. Without keeping these facts in mind, we shall lose the inspiration that these three words provide us and start wandering aimlessly among the comity of nations.

Let me remind my fellow citizens, that in the present environment, it is all the more imperative for us to place national unity and integrity above everything else. If we want to build a prosperous and stable future for ourselves, we shall have to shed petty differences and controversies, and subordinate our personal and parochial wishes to the higher values of life that the motto demands.

Therefore, let us renew our covenant today to make Pakistan a developed, enlightened, forward looking, progressive and modern Islamic welfare state.

May Allah bless us with the ability and the wisdom to follow the Quaid's motto in letter and spirit, Ameen!

Message from General Pervez Musharraf President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the occasion of Pakistan Day

23rd March, 2007

Pakistan Day is a truly historic milestone in our nation's quest for independence from colonial rule. It is a manifestation of the resolve of the Muslims of South Asia, and their unanimous will resulting in the creation of Pakistan under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah; a homeland where they could live in peace, harmony without fear of domination or subjugation.

From that momentous day in 1940, our nation has come a long way. Having attained independence on 14th August 1947 against seemingly insurmountable odds, our country has been confronted with many challenges both external and internal in the post independence period. The problems have indeed been many as well as complex. In most certainly goes to the credit of the Pakistani nation that we have always risen to the occasion and successfully overcome adversity by demonstrating patriotism, steadfastness, resilience and unswerving faith in Almighty Allah.

Pakistan is rapidly moving on the path of progress and development. Reforms in all sectors have been successfully introduced and are bearing fruit, and a new direction has been given to our nation's destiny in line with the principles given to us by our founders.

Allah has gifted our country with tremendous natural resources and our people with immense capabilities. They have always faced up to every challenge in the past, whether it was related to the creation of Pakistan or to its defense. I am confident that if we abide by the guiding principles of Unity, Faith and Discipline given by the Quaid-e-Azam, we will InshaAllah make Pakistan an impregnable fortress of democracy, peace, progress and attain our rightful place in the comity of nations.

May Allah be with us in our endeavors. Ameen!