Lauding the contribution of Pakistani Americans in the country's economic uplift, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said the government is determined to achieve the goal of development and prosperity and asked the expatriates to continue promoting soft image of the country.
In his message on the occasion of "Pakistan Festival USA" being organised to mark the country's 70 Independence Day, said such events provide the opportunity to show to the younger generation the ideals Pakistan stands for, rich legacy, worthy traditions and promises its future holds for the nation.
I am very pleased to extend my heartfelt greetings to the organisers of "Pakistan Festival USA" the Prime Minister said and added it was certainly an honour and proud achievement to successfully hold this event every year.
Being held of 30 consecutive years, Pakistan Festival USA has become a forum for Americans of Pakistani-origin to celebrate the day together. States' governors, lawmakers and other US government officials have regularly attended the annual daylong event which draws tens of thousands of people, mainly from the states of Virginia, Maryland and the Capital Washington DC.
The Prime Minister said that as the nation celebrates its Independence Day all Pakistanis should feel proud of the achievements made in the past three years. "Our economy is back on track; terrorist activities have been contained to a large extent and days are not far off when we will purge our country from the menace of extremism." He said as an acknowledgement of the country's economic progress, US-based Global Index Provider MSCI in June announced to upgrade Pakistan to Emerging Markets status from Frontier Markets. This re-classification will help attract much-needed foreign investment into Pakistan, he added.
The Prime Minister said that the government achieved this tremendous economic progress despite many hurdles. This was not possible without help and support of the patriotic Pakistanis both in the country as well as abroad, he said, adding that the government was determined to achieve the goal of development and prosperity for the nation in spite of attempts to create political instability.
"As our economy makes progress, let me add here that it was not possible without the support of our overseas brethren like you who are a critical source of the country's foreign exchange. All Americans of Pakistan origin have been contributing handsomely, in this respect. And, I appreciate it," he added.
The Prime Minister said that in the field of education and health services, the Americans of Pakistan descent have all along been doing their best; which, role is worth emulation, and is highly commended. He also reminded of the fact that Pakistani Americans were playing a singular role in consolidating people to people ties between the two nations.
"Events like "Pakistan Festival USA" provide the opportunity to show to the younger generation the ideals Pakistan stands for, rich legacy, worthy traditions and promises its future holds for the nation," he said. A fully democratic Government functions in Pakistan and steering the country on road to prosperity as envisioned by founder the nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Prime Minister said. "The Pakistani-American community has an important role to play in helping their country of origin develop and progress."