Enriching in bilateral relations

It is with great pleasure that on this auspicious occasion of the National Day of Pakistan, I wish to express my heartfelt felicitations to our Pakistani compatriots who are working and living in this beautiful Kingdom of Bahrain. This day reminds us of the valiant struggle of our forefathers and political leaders who worked day and night to realize a separate homeland for Muslims of the Subcontinent where they could live their lives according to their religious believes and convictions. 

The idea of a separate homeland for the Muslim of the subcontinent was conceived and envisioned by Poet of the East Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal during the annual meeting of All India Muslim League December 29, 1930.  Sir Muhammad Iqbal said in his Presidential address that he would like to see Punjab, North-West Frontier Province now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan amalgamated into a single state. Self-government within the British Empire or without the British Empire, the formation of a consolidated North-West Indian Muslim state appears to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least in North-West India.

It was this direction which the Pakistan Movement needed. Under the platform of All India Pakistan Muslim League, the Muslims of subcontinent doubled their efforts with a fresh vigour under the leadership of our father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah towards achieving the goal of a separate independent state for the Muslims for Subcontinent in the form of Pakistan. The hapless and oppressed Muslims of the subcontinent offered enormous sacrifices towards the realization of this goal. 

While addressing the annual conference, Quaid-e-AZAM Muhammad Ali Jinnah said that Hindus and the Muslims belong to two different religions, philosophies, social customs and literature.... It is quite clear that Hindus and Muslims derive their inspiration from different sources of history. They have different epics, different heroes and different episodes.... To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one as a numerical minority and the other as a majority must lead to growing discontent and final destruction of any fabric that may be so built up for the government of such a state.

 On 23 March 1940, at Lahore the Muslim League formally committed itself to creating an independent Muslim state, including Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan, the North West Frontier Province and Bengal, that would be “wholly autonomous and sovereign”. The resolution guaranteed protection for non-Muslim religions. The resolution proved to be a red-letter day in the annals of history which changed the course of the history. It galvanized the Muslims of the subcontinent towards their aim of a separate homeland where they could live in peace and harmony without the distinction of race, colour and religion.

    It is now binding upon us to uphold the noble ideals of our forefathers of maintaining unity among our ranks and strive for a better future. Let’s work for the country and make it great in the comity of nations. Tolerance and unity should be the hallmark of our society.

I am glad to state that the members of the Pakistani community living and working in this beautiful kingdom of Bahrain are contributing to the peace, progress and prosperity of both Bahrain and Pakistan. They are many successful entrepreneurs, businessmen, industrialists, bankers, engineers and teachers in our community. They are our real heroes. They are our assets and their services are appreciated and recognized at all levels.  They act as a bridge which connects the two societies. 

I on befall of the government of Pakistan, our community living in Bahrain and Embassy of Pakistan and it staff are extremely grateful and appreciate the efforts of the government of Kingdom of Bahrain under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa in looking after the welfare and well-being of the Pakistani community. I would also call upon our community to respect the local laws and be a source of strength and asset to further bilateral relations between the two brotherly counties.

 Pakistan had been through really hard times in the recent Past. We faced a prolonged war against the militants and terrorist. This menace of evil had tarnished our national image. Innocent people, women and children were their targets. We lost thousands of people in the war against terror. However, the government of Pakistan with the help of its people and the valiant armed forces of Pakistan fought bravely against these forces of extremism and radicalism in the country. Alhamdullilah, Pakistan has reversed the tide of terrorism and defeated them by restoring peace in the country. These terrorists are on the run and they had no place to hide in the country. 

Pakistan and Bahrain have traditionally enjoyed excellent bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations. High-level exchanges are a hallmark of our friendly relations. The government of Pakistan lays special emphasis on further developing these relations in all fields of life including trade, commerce and politics.  It is the mutual desire of the leadership to further deepen cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology, culture and sports and various other fields.

I am confident that the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bahrain shall continue to grow from strength to strength in future. 

Murad Ali Wazir

Charge d’ Affaires

Embassy of Pakistan