WASHINGTON (Web Desk) – A statue of Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has been installed at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C.
The statue was unveiled during a ceremony held at the embassy on Friday as part of Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations, adding a historic and national character to the event.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh unveiled the statue at the ceremony, which was attended by Pakistani-American community members, diplomats and media representatives.
The statue was gifted to the embassy by the Quaid-i-Azam Foundation, based in Houston, and will remain permanently installed at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington.
The installation comes as Pakistan prepares to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah this year. Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Sheikh paid tribute to the founder of Pakistan for his political struggle and prolonged efforts for the creation of the country.
The Independence Day ceremony began with the hoisting of the Pakistani flag, followed by the national anthem and recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. Messages from the president, prime minister and deputy prime minister on the occasion of Independence Day were also read out.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Sheikh highlighted the importance of Pakistan-US relations, saying Pakistan remained important to the United States at both the regional and global levels, while the two countries were cooperating in various fields.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also referred to bilateral cooperation in his Independence Day message for Pakistan. The areas of cooperation include regional mediation, critical minerals, energy, counterterrorism, cultural heritage, trade and investment.
Pakistan’s efforts toward regional mediation have also gained significance amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran. Pakistan has sought to use its relations with both Washington and Tehran to facilitate dialogue and help reduce tensions.
During the ceremony, a special honour was also conferred. Pakistani-American community leader and cultural ambassador Waqar Ali Khan was awarded the President’s Medal for Pride of Performance in recognition of his decades-long services.