AUGUST 14, 2021 TH 75 3 PAKISTAN INDEPENDENCE DAY August 14, 2021 Dr. Arif Alvi Imran Khan MESSAGE OF THE AmBASSADOR President Prime Minister extend heartiest felicitations to my Pakistani strong will to effectively counter affection that binds our two countries. brothers and sisters and our friends in the State of all challenges currently I greatly appreciate the excellent Qatar on the occasion of the 75th Independence confronting the country. This healthcare facilities and facilitation Day of Pakistan. This is a day to commemorate the includes the ongoing extended to the large Pakistani community Ifearless democratic struggle and countless sacrifices coronavirus crisis. Pakistan has during the coronavirus crisis. I am also rendered by the nation to achieve their right to have a received universal praise for its confident that the numbers of Pakistani homeland in accordance with their aspirations and effective policies. The workforce in Qatar will substantially distinct religious, cultural and social values. Economist magazine ranked increase in the longer term. Commemorating Independence Day in a befitting Pakistan among the best I take this opportunity to especially manner strengthens our resolve to work tirelessly performing countries for thank all overseas Pakistanis for their towards transforming our country in accordance with handling the pandemic. contribution to the development and the aspirations of the Father of the Nation Quaid-e- Measures taken by the prosperity of the country. For the Pakistani Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and other leaders of the government to control the community in the State of Qatar, Independence struggle. spread of coronavirus, while Independence Day has always been an Today we pay homage to the Quaid-e-Azam by keeping the economy especially joyous occasion. They celebrate pledging to adhere to and follow his guiding principles operational was a huge this day with great zeal and enthusiasm. of Unity, Faith and Discipline in our individual as well challenge but the government This 14th August also, the community, while as collective lives. It is also an occasion for all of us to has, to a large extent, successfully addressed it. respecting the rules due to the coronavirus situation, rejoice and renew our firm resolve to carry forward the Pakistan and the Qatar have historically enjoyed will commemorate Yaum-e-Azadi by paying tributes to legacy and heritage bequeathed to us by the Quaid-e- extremely cordial relations based on a common faith the sacrifices of the founding fathers in a befitting Azam, Allama Iqbal and other leaders of the and traditions, deep-rooted cultural affinities, manner and reaffirming their resolve to continue to Independence movement who were supported by their geographic proximity, and convergence of interests. work for the progress and prosperity of the motherland. nation through unwavering determination and These fraternal bonds have been carried forward and While celebrating the Independence Day today, let demonstration of remarkable discipline and unity. strengthened under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh us reiterate our commitment to take Pakistan to the Over the last seven and a half decades, the Pakistani Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, heights of greatness in line with the vision of the nation has time and again overcome enormous who has always shown great support for Pakistan. independence leaders. May Allah Almighty grant us the challenges and adversity through unflinching and Bilateral relations have been greatly strengthened ability to serve our beloved homeland sincerely and unswerving faith, patriotism, steadfastness and in recent times. Frequent leadership level contact and lead Pakistan on the path of further development and resilience. During the course of this journey, all exchange of high level visits have increased over the prosperity. challenges emanating from within and outside were past two and a half years. Prime Minister Imran Khan On this 14th August we also pay tribute to the faced with unparalleled resilience by the nation. visited Qatar twice in 2019 and again in February 2020; struggle and sacrifices of our Kashmiri brethren in The hardworking people of Pakistan, including and we proudly hosted H H the Amir in Pakistan in June their just struggle against oppression till the realisation overseas Pakistanis, are playing their due roles in the 2019. Foreign Ministers of the two brotherly countries of their inalienable right to self-determination as progress and development of the country as it also remain in regular contact. The positive enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council continues on the path to greater progress and engagement at the leadership level has led to a Resolutions. development as envisaged by the Father of the Nation. substantial boost in bilateral cooperation in all fields Let us also reaffirm our commitment to further The day is also an occasion to pay tribute to all those including the political, defence and economic spheres. strengthening the fraternal bonds between Pakistan sons of the soil who laid their lives while defending and Pakistanis have proudly contributed in the and Qatar and dedicate ourselves to bringing our two protecting territorial as well as ideological frontiers of remarkable and praiseworthy progress and great nations ever closer. the motherland. development of Qatar. The Pakistani community is a The Pakistani nation is today fully united and living bridge between the two nations. Our workforce Pakistan Zindabad. determined to meet all challenges and continue its has made significant contribution in key institutions of Pakistan-Qatar friendship Zindabad. march towards progress and development. The Qatar such as the armed forces, police, health, government of Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime education, banking and civil aviation. The hospitality Syed Ahsan Raza Shah Minister Imran Khan, has already demonstrated its offered to Pakistanis in Qatar is a reflection of the Ambassador of Pakistan EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dr. Khalid M Al-Shafi MANAGING EDITOR SUppLement Editor COVER / DESIGN Mohammed Osman Ali Arsalan Altaf Abraham Augusthy 4 Qatar-Pakistan: An everlasting bond of brotherhood President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan H E Dr Arif Alvi granting “Nishan-e-Pakistan”, country’s highest civil award, to Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as an expression of the depth of the historical relations between Qatar and Pakistan, in Islamabad, on June 23, 2019. RIGHT: H H the Amir planting a pine tree along with Prime Minister of Pakistan H E Imran Khan during his visit to Pakistan, to express the strength of the relations between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples. mir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani talks session. At the outset of the session, the Pakistani Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Shah Mehmood Qureshi; paid a two-day state visit to Pakistan on June Prime Minister greeted H H the Amir, expressing hope Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs 22-23, 2019. During the visit, H H the Amir and that the visit by His Highness would contribute to Zulfi Bukhari, as well as a number of senior officials; Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of cementing and developing the friendship relations Qatar’s Ambassador to Pakistan, H E Saqr bin Mubarak APakistan H E Imran Khan witnessed the signing of a between the two countries. Al Mansouri; Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar, H E Syed number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) He noted that the great successes Qatar has achieved Ahsan Raza Shah, and members of the Qatar Embassy. between the two countries’ governments. in different fields, which will be conducive to further The artillery fired 21 rounds upon the arrival of H H H H the Amir and the Prime Minister of Pakistan joint cooperation. the Amir. witnessed the signing of an MoU between Qatar’s In turn, H H the Amir expressed happiness to visit H H the Amir was accorded an official reception at Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Pakistan’s Pakistan and also voiced confidence that the visit would the headquarter of Prime Ministry of Pakistan. The Ministry of Commerce and Textile Industry, on the constitute a platform for strategic cooperation that ceremony began with the national anthems of Qatar and establishment of Qatari-Pakistani Joint Working Group serves the interests of the two brotherly peoples. Pakistan, then H H the Amir inspected the Pakistani on Trade and Investment, in addition to an MoU for The two sides discussed aspects of enhancing guard of honour. JF 17 fighter Jets also flew in H H the cooperation in the fields of tourism and business relations between the two countries in various fields, Amir’s reception. activities. especially in economy, trade, investment, energy, H H the Amir then planted a pine tree in the garden They also witnessed the signing of MoU for tourism, education and other fields that serve the to express the strength of the relations between the two cooperation in the exchange of financial investigations bilateral interests of the two countries and peoples. They countries and the two brotherly peoples. related to money laundering, related original crime and also discussed the regional and international H H the Amir attended a dinner banquet hosted by the financing of terrorism between the Financial developments, especially the situation in the Middle East the Prime Minister. The function was attended by a Information Unit of the State of Qatar and the Financial and the Gulf region. number of Their Excellencies Pakistani ministers and Control Unit of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Upon arrival in Pakistan, H H the Amir and the senior officials. MoU aims to enhance cooperation between the two accompanying delegation were welcomed at the President of Pakistan H E Dr Arif Alvi granted bodies to effectively reduce and combat money airport of Noor Khan Air Base, by the Pakistani Prime “Nishan-e-Pakistan”, Pakistan’s highest civil award, to H laundering and terrorist financing.