Pakistan Embassy in Washington unveils statue of Quaid-i-Azam

— A statue of Pakistan’s founder Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah has been erected at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington D.C.

The statue was unveiled Friday at a ceremony at the embassy marking Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations, giving the occasion a historic and patriotic flavor.

The statue was unveiled by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheik, at the ceremony attended by members of the Pakistani-American community, diplomats and members of the media.

The statue was donated to the embassy by the Houston-based Quaid-i-Azam Foundation and will be permanently installed in the Pakistani Embassy in Washington.

The installation comes as Pakistan prepares to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah this year. Speaking at the occasion, Ambassador Sheik paid honor to the founder of Pakistan for his political fight and hard efforts for foundation of the country.

The Independence Day celebration began with the hoisting of the Pakistani flag followed by the national song and recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. Messages of the president, prime minister and deputy prime minister on the occasion of Independence Day were also read out.

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Sheik said Pakistan continued to be essential to the United States in the regional and global context.

In his Independence Day speech to Pakistan, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke of bilateral collaboration. Areas of collaboration are: regional mediation, key minerals, energy, counter-terrorism, cultural heritage, trade and investment.

Pakistan’s attempts toward regional mediation have also become important in the wake of continued tensions between the United States and Iran. Pakistan has sought to leverage its contacts with both Washington and Tehran to foster discussion and aid in defusing tensions.

There was also a particular honor at the event. Pakistani-American community leader and cultural ambassador Waqar Ali Khan was given President’s Medal for Pride of Performance for his decades-long services.