The High Commission of Pakistan, Pretoria (South Africa) celebrated the National Day of Pakistan on 23rd March, 2012. The Pakistan Day celebrations commenced in the morning of 23rd March, when H.E Mr. Zaigham Uddin Azam, High Commissioner of Pakistan hoisted Pakistani Flag. National Anthem was played in the background whilst crowd witnessed the ceremony in silence. A large number of Pakistani families attended the event. After the Flag hoisting ceremony, the Messages of Honorable President of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari and Honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani, were read out.
HE Zaigham Uddin Azam, High Commissioner while addressing at the occasion stressed the expatriate Pakistanis for playing major role in portraying positive image of Pakistan. The High Commissioner further added that it is because of the remittances sent by the expat Pakistanis that Pakistan is able to maintain a healthy foreign exchange reserves and underlined the increasing need for sending the same through banking channels.
In a prestigious ceremony in the afternoon, the High Commissioner hosted National Day Reception at his residence. The reception was attended by large number of people from all walks of life which included members from the Diplomatic Core, prominent businessmen, political figures and people from the corporate sector. Dr Rob Davies, Minister for Trade and Industry was pleased to be the Chief Guest on the occasion, among other distinguished guests included HE Bene Lofongo M’Poko, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Dean of Diplomats) and Mrs Shannon Ebrahim, Wife of Deputy Minister International Relations. The High Commissioner while speaking on the accession highlighted the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.
