The ceremony started with the hoisting of flag by Pakistan’s charge d’affaires in Tehran, Nasrullah Khan, as the national anthem was played.
A large number of Pakistani nationals in Tehran, students and teachers of the Pakistan International School, and officials from the ECO secretariat were present at the flag hoisting ceremony.
The national anthems, which were mixed with a praise of sacrifices made in the way of achieving independence from the Indian subcontinent, had given a pleasant atmosphere to the occasion.
The children, dressed in national dress, were resounding poems in praise of their forefathers.
The participants were filled with enjoyment as the national anthems (Mili Naghmas) were conducted.
The charge d’affaires read out messages from Pakistan’s president and prime minister. He also paid tribute Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, and other leaders of the movement.
“This day reminds us of those momentous times when our forefathers rallied around the dynamic personality of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and under his inspiring leadership resolved to carve out for themselves an independent sovereign country,” Nasrullah Khan said in the ceremony.
Nasrullah Khan also pointed to fraternal relations between Iran and Pakistan, saying ties have grown stronger since the two neighbors established relationship six decades ago. The diplomat added the recent visit to Tehran by Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari would help improve relationship between the two countries.
Zardari visited Iran to attend the ECO summit on March 11.
PA/PA
END
MNA