Dubai: A large number of Pakistani expatriates gathered at the consulate in Bur Dubai early yesterday to watch their national flag raised as the country celebrated its 69th Independence Day.
The green colour of the Pakistani flag pervaded the festive crowd, which erupted into chants of ‘Long live Pakistan!’ as the flag was unfurled at the conclusion of the national anthem.
Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE, raised the flag at the embassy in Abu Dhabi, setting off joyous celebrations amid the large gathering assembled at the mission.
Javed Jalil Khattak, the consul general in Dubai, said he was happy with the large turnout. “You can see the enthusiasm rippling through the crowd,” he said, “I would like to congratulate all Pakistani expatriates in the UAE on this occasion. I’m very happy with the turnout. It’s great to see this many people show up on a Friday morning.”
Pakistanis around the world commemorated the country’s independence from British rule in 1947 and its emergence as a sovereign nation.
Ishtihaq Malek, who has been living in the UAE for almost 40 years, said he commemorates his country’s independence at the consulate “without fail” every year.
“I came to the UAE in 1977. I arrived in the UAE on my own but now I am happy to say that I have more than 75 family members residing here.”
Malek said he spent the previous night preparing balloons and flags with his children to mark the occasion. “We drove all the way from Ajman [to Dubai]. We never fail to mark the day when our nation became a sovereign state. It is important to keep this sense of nationalism alive.”
Mohammad Ayoub, who works for a logistics company in Dubai, said people should not be deterred from visiting Pakistan owing to the way it is presented by the media.
“The fact is: we are a peaceful country and a loving nation,” he said. “I encourage people to visit the country’s north to witness it for themselves. Unfortunately, the country’s reputation is tainted because of the negative media portrayal.”
Ayoub said he spent the evening before at a cake-cutting ceremony to mark Pakistan’s 69th independence day.
“It is an important day for us,” Ayoub said. “It marks our unity and our faith. I’ve been living in the UAE for eight years and, every August 14, I come to the consulate with my family to celebrate the occasion.”
Kamal Taiyeb, a banker, said the day was a good time to reflect on the struggles the founding fathers endured to secure a sovereign state. “Unfortunately, many from the younger generation are oblivious to the struggles of our founding fathers in creating Pakistan,” he said. “We need to educate our youth on what it took to build our country.”
