Tajammul Gurmani
A flag hoisting ceremony was held at the Consulate General of Pakistan in Manchester to mark Pakistan Day. The simple but dignified event was attended by people from all walks of life. The Guest of Honour was British Member of Parliament (MP) Afzal Khan, while the ceremony was hosted by the Consul General of Pakistan in Manchester, Muhammad Tariq Wazir Khan. Cllr Shahbaz Sarwar, Dr. Iqbal Naeem, Community Welfare Attaché Misbah Noreen, Aamir Raza, and a large number of women and children also attended the ceremony. The programme started with the recitation of the Holy Quran. MP Afzal Khan and Consul General Tariq Wazir Khan jointly hoisted the national flag. Messages from the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, and Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif were read out, highlighting the significance of the day.
In his speech, CGP Tariq Wazir Khan said the ceremony was kept simple due to the holy month of Ramadan. He welcomed the guests, especially the women and children, and emphasised the importance of celebrating national days. He explained that Pakistan Day on 23rd March commemorates the passing of the Lahore Resolution in 1940, which paved the way for the creation of Pakistan.
Tariq Wazir said that they were gathered to express their identity, as both British and Pakistani. He also stressed the importance of teaching children about their heritage. He encouraged the British-Pakistani community to visit the Consulate to stay connected with their roots. He said that the Pakistani community should become good citizens and fulfil their responsibilities in the UK.
Reflecting on his five years in Manchester, he said he had spent a wonderful time in the city and announced that he would leave in July. He remarked that the Pakistani media is vibrant and highlighted the significant role Pakistanis play in local politics. He also mentioned plans for a large celebration in August for Pakistan’s Independence Day.
Addressing the gathering, MP Afzal Khan described 23rd March as a significant day for the Pakistani community. He said that Pakistan is a unique country in the world. He praised the contributions of British-Pakistanis to society and encouraged unity within the community.
“We are dual nationals, and both countries are important for us. We need to build a bridge between the two countries. Pakistanis are playing an important role in the UK. We need to strengthen our community here and promote unity in our ranks. We are now the fifth generation here, and we need to respect Pakistan. We must be very careful, as social media is highly active. We should avoid negativity. With the rise of AI, we need to differentiate between fake and real images,” he observed.
MP Afzal Khan paid tribute to CGP Tariq Wazir, commending his dedicated service over the past five years and recognising his positive impact on the community. The participants also enjoyed taking group photos on this occasion.
