A function of Hamdard Naunehal Assembly Karachi chapter to celebrate Independence Day, comprised speeches, national songs and Dua-e-Said, was held on August 25at a local hotel. Speaking on the occasion, Mrs Sadia Rashid, President, Hamdard Foundation Pakistan said: 'Independence is Allah's matchless blessing and to value and safeguard the independence is the foremost duty of all of us.
Pakistan got its freedom after passing through a long period of slavery and it was the result of Allama Iqbal's dream, great struggle and statesmanship of Quaid-e-Azam and his companions that Pakistan came into being on August 14, she added. 'You will be the citizens and builders of tomorrow's Pakistan and the responsibility of safety, solidarity, progress and prosperity of your homeland would rest upon your shoulders,' she told the children and added: 'You could only be able to perform this gigantic task provided you would equip yourselves with good education, training, hardworking, law abidance and discipline'. You should always keep in your minds, to maintain freedom of your homeland, the saying of Hakim Said: "Freedom is life and slavery is death,' she advised the children.
Paying tribute to Professor Anita Ghulam Ali who died recently, Mrs Sadia Rashid said Anita Ghulam Ali had dedicated her whole life for the cause of education. She, being a member of the Board of Governors, Hamdard Education Society, also rendered valuable suggestions to Hamdard for the promotion of education on the part of Hamdard, she maintained.
Chief guest and educationists, Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, while addressing the gathering of children said Pakistan was achieved by Iqbal, Quaid-e-Azam and Muslim leaders through argument and negotiation and not by using the unparliamentarily language and Dharnas. As a result of Dharnas rate of dollar has gone up, escalation in prices and foreign loans was also expected, she observed.
She said those countries which got freedom after Pakistan such as China, Korea and Malaysia were touching the height of progress, but Pakistan was going down and down because of lacking of sincerity, honesty and integrity on the part of those people who were responsible for the management of the country. The United States of America in its early history experienced the same situation as Pakistan was now facing, but Americans remained stick to their constitution, democracy and principle of rule of law and as a sequel they became super power of the world. That was too the only way for us to get rid of the prevailing situation and must adhere to our constitution, democracy and try to maintain rule of law in the country, she asserted.
'The Prophet (PBUH) had set superior examples of wisdom, patience and endurance for us and being Muslims we should follow them.' 'Today, is the age of technology and the new generation can easily acquire new technology, so they should now be our guide, let them take the helm of the affairs', she said and hoped the new generation and the children, who are sitting here, and else where in Pakistan would realise the dream visualise by our forefathers and make Pakistan according to their wishes. Child speakers also spoke on the occasion. Maryam Akbar compared the programme. Besides teachers, parents and children attended the function in a large number.-PR