BHC staff members plant 75 trees, EU envoy plays national anthem on trumpet while Australian envoy sends greetings
Zubair Qureshi
To commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations with Pakistan and to greet the people of the country on the 75th Independence Anniversary, foreign missions in Islamabad have conveyed their greetings and best wishes in unique and different ways.
The British High Commission staff, joined by Chevening alumni and personnel from the Islamabad Capital Development Authority planted 75 trees native to Pakistan in the Shakarparian National Park.
The activity compliments a vast year-long tree planting programme carried out in the UK by the British Pakistan Foundation and Pakistan High Commission. Named ‘The Legacy Project’, this was launched to celebrate the achievements of British Pakistanis over the last 75 years. A total of 7,500 trees are set to be planted. On the occasion the Acting British High Commissioner Andrew Dalgleish said, “Right now the UK and Pakistan are collaborating to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges from driving forward action on climate change to improving gender equality. I know that we will continue to do so over the next seventy-five years. Happy Birthday, happy Independence Day, Azm-e-aali Shaan, Shaad rahe Pakistan!” The newly arrived ambassador of the European Union Dr Riina Kionka ahead of the 75th Independence Day of the country and as a commemoration for 60 years of EU-Pakistan relations also celebrated the occasion by playing the national anthem on trumpet.
The unique way to mark Aug 14 was shared through a special campaign on social media.
According to a press release issued by the EU delegation, the union is committed towards creating a stable, democratic and pluralistic country that respects human rights and benefits from its full economic potential by supporting sustainable and inclusive development for all its citizens. Collaboration between the EU and Pakistan is grounded in the Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP) signed in 2019.
The EU is one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners and has supported Pakistan’s integration into the global economy and its sustainable economic development, by granting it preferential access to the European single market under the GSP+ system since 2014. Ambassador Kionka call
The Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Neil Hawkins too congratulated Pakistan on the 75th anniversary of its creation. In a special message, he said, “Happy Birthday Pakistan. Just 75 years young and much to be proud of and much to celebrate: Your ethnic diversity, rich cultural heritage, fabulous food and spectacular scenery. But the most striking element for me is the warm and welcoming people – always ready with a smile and a ‘salaam aleikum.’
The statement further said that Australia was one of the first countries to recognise Pakistan in 1947, though our people to people ties go back to the 1800s. Camel traders from Balochistan were critical in transporting goods across our deserts. Today almost 100,000 Pakistanis call Australia home and make a critical contribution to our multicultural society. Australia is one of the first countries that recognized Pakistan in 1947. Our people to people ties go back to the 1800s as camel traders from Balochistan were critical in transporting goods across our deserts. Today almost 100,000 Pakistanis call Australia home and make a critical contribution to our multicultural society, the statement said.
