STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan have said that nation should demonstrate unity, discipline and passion to fight coronavirus epidemic that has engulfed the whole world. They expressed these views in their messages on Pakistan Day (23rd March) which is being commemorated Monday and paid homage to founding leaders of Pakistan and expressed unshakable support to the oppressed people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir who have been subjected to an inhuman lockdown for over seven months. The president, in a message on Pakistan Day, said, “I assure the people of Jammu and Kashmir that Pakistan will stand shoulder to shoulder with them and will continue its moral, political and diplomatic support for their legitimate right of self-determination,”. The president said that 23rd March was an important landmark in the history of our nation as on this day in 1940, the historic Lahore Resolution was passed which united the Muslims of the sub-continent for a greater objective. The Muslims of the subcontinent through their collective will, expressed unwavering resolve to carve out a separate homeland for themselves wherein they could lead their lives in accordance with their own religion, traditions, values and culture. Today, he said, they were paying homage to the Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Poet of the East Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal and all the other great leaders of the freedom movement who paved the way for the creation of Pakistan. “Let us express our firm resolve to continue the legacy and heritage bequeathed to us by our founding fathers and by following in their footsteps to make our country a cradle of peace, progress and stability,” a press release quoted the president as saying. He further observed that in these days, the world was facing the severe outbreak of coronavirus. “We Pakistanis also need to stand united to fight this pandemic. It is the responsibility of all segments of society, including Ulema, media and political leaders to play their due role in educating the masses about the preventive measures against the virus,” he added. He said the doctors and health workers were the first line of defence in this crisis and nation saluted them for their unrelenting and selfless endeavors. “We also laud our Law Enforcement Agencies for their untiring services,” he added. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan while lauding the nerve of Pakistani nation against the ordeals in the past, urged the countrymen to show utmost unity, discipline and passion to fight the coronavirus pandemic that had engulfed the world. “I am proud to say that the Pakistani nation has the capability to face any ordeal. While celebrating the Pakistan Day this year, we need unity, discipline and passion to face the catastrophe that has engulfed the whole world,” the prime minister said in message to nation on Pakistan Day. He requested the people to take precautions without getting panicked as he was personally monitoring the government’s measures against the pandemic. “God willing, we will stand victorious in this test,” he remarked. The prime minister said the Kashmir dispute was an incomplete agenda of the division of the subcontinent and reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to continue extending moral, political and diplomatic support for the Kashmir’s right to self-determination
