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Outgoing high commissioner hails Pak-UK ties
LONDON: In a speech to the British lawmakers, outgoing High Commissioner of Pakistan Wajid Shamsul Hassan hailed Pak-UK ties and praised London for standing with Pakistan while it charted its course to democracy through rough waters. Here’s the speech:
The Rt Hon Baroness D’Souza, Lord Speaker. Rt Hon Hugh Robertson, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Attorney General of Pakistan HE Salman Butt, Secretary General Commonwealth HE Kamalesh Sharma and Mrs Babli Sharma, His Excellency Khaled Al-Duwaisan and Mrs Dalal Duwaisan, His Excellency Louis Ayala, Secretary General of Socialist International, Former Speaker Hon. Baroness Boothroyd,
Lords, Members Parliament, Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen. I heartily welcome you all on the National Day of Pakistan. We commemorate this day to pay tributes to the Muslims of South Asia under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah who established a separate homeland. Mr Jinnah’s vision for Pakistan was of a liberal, progressive and egalitarian democratic country where every citizen was to enjoy equal rights, freedom and opportunities—irrespective of caste, creed, colour or gender. On this day we reiterate our commitment and resolve to uphold Mr Jinnah’s ideals of state-hood.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, It has been an eventful 6 years for me. I joined this assignment in 2008 after the gaping hole left in our life by the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who laid down her life for the restoration of democracy. I have had the pleasure to serve earlier as the High Commissioner from 1994 to 1996. And I will be completing this assignment as the longest serving High Commissioner of Pakistan.
Next week I would be handing over charge to my able Deputy High Commissioner Mr Imran Mirza. I wish him and Mrs Aysha Mirza a successful stint. Since 2008, we have been witness to developments in Pakistan on a mammoth scale. The most significant being that for the first time a democratically elected government in Pakistan under President Asif Ali Zardari passed on the government baton with grace and dignity – to the next elected government under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif—third time to hold that august office.
I am confident that successive governments will pay heed to the sacrifices made to achieve the democratic goal. I am sure that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will also have the privilege to complete the five years and steer the nation to the next democratic elections in 2018. During these last six years we have been able to bring forward many good things for Pakistan, the highlight of which being the 18 Amendment in the Constitution of Pakistan whereby our Provinces have been given greater autonomy and the structure of the Federation has been strengthened.
The fight against militancy and extremism is another area where Pakistan has taken the bull by the horn to eradicate and eliminate it. After successful operations in Swat in 2008 onwards, currently the militant forces are being given a chance to show their sincerity in putting down arms and absorbing and adopting the Constitution of Pakistan.
Pakistan is proud of its matchless relations with UK. The UK has stood with Pakistan while the country charts it’s course to democracy through rough waters. Currently Pakistan is the largest development partner of DFID’s primary education programmes in Pakistan. We have a bilateral forum for all areas of cooperation, including Defence, Trade, Economy, through the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue which meets regularly to define, encourage and monitor the steady growth of relations between our two countries and people’s.
Pakistan-UK trade is agreed to reach £3 billion target next year. In this context I must acknowledge the role played by Sir Adam Thomson, former British Commissioner. His able successor HE Philip Barton is now ably steering the course forward. We also have a strong relation with the Commonwealth and have recently been elected to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which is like the Security Council of the United Nations.
We have a strong Diaspora comprising over 1.3 million strong with members in the Parliament, over 300 mayors and councillors. Within the region, Pakistan enjoys excellent relations with China, Turkey,Iran, and seeks more positive engagement to improving relations with Afghanistan and India. The restoration of democracy in Pakistan is the result of unprecedented sacrifices by our leadership and the people. Our leadership and the society has made enormous sacrifices to fulfil our founding fathers’ dream of making Pakistan a progressive, liberal and dynamic polity—a role model for the entire Muslim world.
Let me assure our international friends that the Pakistani nation, under democratic leadership, is fully determined to move onward to pastures new. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I am confident that the British nationals of Pakistani heritage will continue to play their sterling role in the progress of Britain and Pakistan. I take this opportunity to call upon all enterprising members of the Pakistani community to bring their investments into Pakistan. I must convey to them from the bottom of my heart their support to me in the dispensation of my assignment in both tenures.
I would like to thank The Rt Hon Baroness D’Souza, Lord Speaker, Rt Hon Mr. Hugh Robertson, Minister of State and HE Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary General Commonwealth for gracing the Pakistan Day reception tonight despite their pressing official engagements.
Last but not the least, this historic occasion is also my farewell. I have played my innings and having rendered my humble best as Pakistan’s longest serving High Commissioner—a privilege and honour—it would not have been possible without the support of my wife Zarina, my colleagues at the Pakistan High Commission and its four Consulates and more importantly I have had the honour of serving five Prime Ministers. I am in particular grateful to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for reposing his confidence in me.
I must acknowledge with utmost gratitude that during two stints that I have represented my country as High Commissioner at the Court of St James—I have had enormous support from the governments of the day and their leadership in the United Kingdom. I have made friends in all places and they have stood by Pakistan and me.
I know it is difficult to name all of them but they all know that they shall remain closest to my heart and I shall cherish their association as long as I am round. Dearest to me shall remain the Pakistani Diaspora and their leaders in all walks of life who stood like a rock behind me to defend and project Pakistan. Without their unstinted support I would not have been successful in my challenging assignment.
A big thank you to my diplomatic colleagues who have been changing every three years except of course our revered Dean of the Diplomatic Corp—His Excellency Khaled Al Duwaisan and the lady at his back Mrs Dalal Al Duwaisan. I first met Brother Khaled in 1994. He has honoured me by being present here this evening. Without his support and guidance my job as a diplomat would have been difficult. My special thanks to Secretary General of Socialist International His Excellency Louis Ayala for his support to Pakistan always.
Thank you all
Pakistan Piandabad and long live Pakistan-UK relations.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk