known welfare organization of the Pakistani community in Jeddah, the Pakistan National Circle (PNC), celebrated Pakistan Day and its 12th anniversary at a function recently in Azizia. A large number of Saudi dignitaries and members of the Pakistani community attended the function. Pakistani Consul General, Abdul Salik Khan, was the chief guest, and was accompanied by the Press Consul Mohammed Tariq Khan and Vice Consul for Passports, Talib Hussain. Sheikh Fahad Al-Mutarfi, a local businessman was the guest of honor. Mian Mohammed Mateen Aslam, a founder and chairman of the PNC, presided over the gathering. In his speech, the Consul General expressed his admiration for the unity of the Pakistani community living in the Kingdom. Khan called on all nationals to work together to make Pakistan a strong, progressive and prosperous Islamic welfare state in accordance with the vision of the Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, and poet-philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Khan highlighted the importance of the day and the ideals of Quaid-i-Azam, under whose leadership Muslims passed the Pakistan Resolution in Lahore on March 23, 1940 and achieved an independent homeland for Muslims. He also expressed his gratitude to the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah, for supporting Pakistanis and provided them with opportunities to serve the Kingdom. Sheikh Fahad Al-Mutrafi, congratulated and wished the Pakistani Community strength into the future. The program started with a welcome by secretary Engineer Tariq Lateef Choudary and then recitation from the Holy Qur'an by Engineer Qari Muhammad Asif. This was followed by a Naat – poetry in praise of the Prophet (peace be upon him) - delivered by Engineer Syed Masood Abbasi and the National Anthems of Pakistan and the Kingdom. Rehana Ali, Chief Organizer of the ladies wing briefed the gathering on the aims and objectives of the PNC. Mohammed Siddique Khokher and Muzher Bhatti presented activity reports and details of the forthcoming launch of the “Pakistan Community Directory”. The student of Pakistan International School, Jeddah Jamal Tariq gave an emotional speech and highlighted the sacrifices made by Pakistanis to create a separate homeland for Muslims from India. The President of the PNC said in his speech that the organization has assisted needy people for the last 12 years, in cooperation with the community. He said there are plans to build 25 international schools in Pakistan with the support of Saudi businessmen under the PNC project entitled: “Pak-Saudi International Public School System”. Bassam Akber Peeran, Nadeem and Khalid Lateef sung national songs and schoolchildren presented tableau on national songs. The poets Zamurrad Khan Saifi, Engineer Mohsin Alvi and Nasim Saher presented poems on Pakistan Day. Engineer Ifthikhar Choudary, Gulab Khan, Dilshad Jani, Ghulam Nabi Butt, Choudary Akram, Najamul Hassan and Riaz Ghuman distributed gifts to the children.
