KATHMANDU, AUGUST 15

The Embassy of Pakistan in Nepal celebrated the 78th Independence Day of Pakistan with a series of vibrant events on Wednesday.

The embassy held a flag hoisting ceremony at the Chancery, where Ambassador Abrar H Hashmi unfurled the national flag. The ceremony was attended by Embassy officials, members of the Pakistani community, and Nepalis, along with their families, creating a colorful and joyous atmosphere, the press release issued by the embassy said.

During the event, messages from the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar were read out.

In the evening, the Embassy, in collaboration with the Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association (NPFCA), hosted an Independence Day Reception at the Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu. The event was attended by Vice President of Nepal, Dr. Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, as the Chief Guest. Special guests included Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Indira Ranamagar, Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Former Deputy Prime Ministers Upendra Yadav and CP Mainali, Former Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, and Member of Parliament Rekha Yadav. The reception drew a significant gathering of Ambassadors, UN officials, SAARC representatives, diplomats, political figures, government officials, businessmen, defence attachés, journalists, and members of the Pakistani community, the release further states.

Addressing the attendees, Ambassador Hashmi expressed gratitude to the Vice President for Nepal's continued support and friendship. He said our civilizational commonalities, same regional dynamics, cultural and linguistic similarities as well as common developmental and ecological challenges make us multifaceted partners. 'Pakistan's approach to its partnership with Nepal is underpinned by desire to mutually benefit. To sustain the relations, we inked number of agreements such as trade, air services, cultural, tourism, agriculture cooperation, and many mechanisms exist between civil society, too.'

Dr. Manju Ratna Shakya (T.Pk), President of the NPFCA highlighted that the association with support of Pakistan Embassy in its 63 years of history has been serving to promote P2P exchanges, contributing in health and social sectors, and furthering the bilateral relations.