Resolution introduced in House of Representatives.
Masood Khan thanks Congressman Bowman for his initiative.
It was an honour to have introduced the resolution, says Bowman.
WASHINGTON: For the first time in the history of Pak-US relations, a landmark resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Jamaal Bowman recognising 23 March 2023 as “Pakistan Day“.
According to Radio Pakistan, the resolution was presented to “honour and celebrate the important role played by the Pakistani-American community in strengthening and inspiring the people of the United States.”
The resolution stated that it is proper and desirable for the United States to recognise and pay tribute to those who foster ethnic pride and enhance the profile of cultural diversity which strengthens the fabric of the communities of the United States.
It further said that “Pakistan Day provides an excellent means by which all residents of the United States can learn more about the rich Pakistani heritage while fostering an appreciation for the ancient culture among future generations,”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan thanked Congressman Bowman for his initiative which he said would not only help further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries but would also help bring the people of the two countries closer to each other.
He also thanked the leadership of the American Pakistan Advocacy Group, including its president and prominent community leader Ali Rashid and other officer-bearers, who had been working hard, maintaining a close liaison with the congressman for the introduction of the landmark resolution.
He said that recognising 23rd March 2023 as “Pakistan Day” and acknowledging the valuable contributions of Pak-American citizens reflects the importance of Pak-US ties and a desire to further strengthen this relation.
Masood Khan also met Congressman Bowman in his chamber, who received him warmly and shared his views about the importance of the relationship and the critical role being played by the Pakistani diaspora in various fields including education, medicine, science, technology, business and industry.
Meanwhile, talking to media outside Capitol Hill, Congressman Bowman said that it was a matter of an honour for him to have introduced the resolution.
He said: “It is incredibly important for us at this moment, as the United States government, to stand with the people of Pakistan who are dealing with a catastrophe that we have not seen in history. 10 million people still struggle to find access to clean water and energy. A third of the country was destroyed. All of this because of what some would call a natural disaster but as we know is related to the issue of climate change.”
Later, in his message to the people of Pakistan, Congressman Bowman greeted the nation on “Pakistan Day” and the commencement of the month of Holy Ramadan and conveyed his message of “Peace and love to the people of Pakistan.”
He said: “Let us continue to work together to bring our two countries together.”
The deaths of four Pakistanis in a boat capsizing event close to the southern Greek island of Goudos have been verified by the Foreign Office.
The incident happened on Sunday and at least five illegal immigrants drowned as a result. According to Greek Coast Guards, 39 people were rescued after the wooden boat overturned, but 40 more are still unaccounted for.
According to a Foreign Office spokeswoman, the four Pakistani nationals were among those killed in the catastrophe. In order to help the remaining Pakistanis and repatriate the corpses of the deceased, the Pakistani Embassy in Athens has been in close communication with Greek authorities, she said.
Additional information was given by Aamir Aftab Qureshi, Pakistan’s ambassador to Greece, during a press conference. According to him, there were 80 Pakistanis on board the doomed boat, and efforts are still being made to find the people who are still missing.
He added that the overcrowding on the boat was a factor in the capsizing. There are worries over the safety of the missing people because a sizable portion of them are children. He stated that five boats carrying Pakistani nationals were traveling illegally from Libya.
The public was also informed by Ambassador Qureshi that the government will pay for the return flight of the accident victims’ bodies.
Approximately 450 Pakistanis, including 250 Zaireen, have successfully crossed into Lebanon from Syria, according to the spokesperson for the Foreign Office, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.
During her weekly briefing at the foreign office in Islamabad, she stated that Pakistan is pleased with the resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly on the Gaza Strip, which calls for an immediate ceasefire.
In addition, she expressed her satisfaction with the elimination of limits placed on UNRWA’s ability to carry out relief activities in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
It was stated by her that Pakistan is demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities in Palestine, an end to the genocide that is taking place in Gaza, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid for those who are in urgent need, full support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and its mandated humanitarian activities, and medical assistance for those who are in urgent need.
Moreover, she stated that Pakistan emphasises the need for the international community to hold Israel accountable for the war crimes and crimes against humanity that it has committed in occupied lands.
The Israeli aggression against Syria, the illegitimate acquisition of Syrian territory, and the massive devastation of Syrian infrastructure as well as civilian and military sites are all topics that Pakistan is extremely worried about, according to the spokesperson for Pakistan.
According to her, this attack on Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is a serious violation of international law to the highest degree. By expressing our support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we are also expressing our opposition to the Israeli government’s attempt to acquire territory through coercion.
The resolution 497 of the United Nations Security Council, which declares the annexation of the Golan Heights by Israel to be null and illegal and to have no international legal impact, was reaffirmed by her organisation.