70th Celebration of Pakistan Independence Day

A fitting event to commemorate the 70th Independence Day of Pakistan was held at the COEX Auditorium on the evening of 14th August 2016. Dancing to the sound of Pakistani tracks being sung by Pakistani singer Sara Raza, the crowd of 1100, including high dignitaries of Korea, was swayed into the spirit of celebration!

The event was well attended by high dignitaries, including first Ambassador of Korea to Pakistan (1983-1985), H.E. Oh Jae-hee, and member National Assembly Mr. Yoon Sang Hyeon , Ex-Chairman KOIMA Mr. Shin and Vice President KOEN, Mr. Ryu. Other guests included Presidents of major business houses in Korea and high ranking military officials of Pakistan on training in Korea.

Chief Guest Dr. Song Jeong-hwan, last Ambassador of Korea to Pakistan, during his speech highlighted the exceptional growth in relations between Korea and Pakistan in the last three years. He showed great satisfaction at the on-going Free Trade Agreement negotiations and hoped the FTA would be signed by middle of next year.

Ambassador of Pakistan to Korea, H.E. Zahid Nasrullah Khan commended the Pakistan Business Association on their hard-work in arranging the event. He highlighted the many positive initiatives he undertook in the last three years and the great outcomes he recieved from his efforts in the form of the first ever visits of Korean Prime Minister and Speaker National Assembly to Pakistan, the increase in EDCF loan and the work on major projects such IT park and children hospital projects and the 100 MW Gulpur Hydro Power project being completed by KOEN in Pakistan.

The highlight of the event was the concert of Sara Raza Khan, a famous singer from Pakistan who joined with her band of five musicians. Live music and her melodious voice cast a spell on the crowd which rocked to the tunes of traditional Pakistani music.

The Independence of Pakistan is a unique tale among the comity of Nations. It is a tale of a dual struggle against a colonial ruler as well as for recognition of a minority being oppressed by the majority population. The Muslims of the Indian sub-continent, under the charismatic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, struggled against British colonial rule and against oppression by the local Hindu population, to achieve a separate homeland where they could practice their faith without oppression. This remarkable struggle was taking place at a time when Korea was struggling against its own colonial rulers and both Nations achieved freedom around the same time (1947 for Pakistan and 1945 for Korea). The shared heritage of struggle and success reflects the resilience of the two peoples. It was this cherished vision of freedom that was on remarkable display at the Independence Day event last Sunday.