A grand reception was hosted in the evening of 23rd March at the Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi, as part of “Pakistan Day” celebrations. The reception was attended by around a thousand guests including political figures, dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, businessmen, media and civil society representatives, and Pakistani nationals in India. High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood and Mrs. Mahwish Sohail received the honourable guests for the National Day reception at the Chancery lawns. Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, was the Chief Guest. The High Commissioner and the Minister stood on the stage as the national anthems of India and Pakistan were played. Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood highlighted the historic significance of 23rd March, the emergence of Pakistan after the 7-year movement under the visionary and inspiring leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and the continuous efforts being made to transform Pakistan in accordance with the Quaid’s vision. The High Commissioner noted that the 23rd March coincided with the completion of 70 years of Pakistan and India as free nations (since independence in 1947) and stressed the importance of changing the past pattern of the bilateral relationship. He said: “I do hope that at this pivotal moment, with India and Pakistan at 70, there would be hard reflection on the time lost, and the opportunities missed.” “Building a future different from the past remains indispensible. We owe it to our next generations. We must give them a future of hope and opportunities. I hope we can prove equal to the task and work purposefully to advance the worthy goals of honourable peace, equal security, and shared prosperity,” the High Commissioner said. As per practice, the High Commissioner also had a brief meeting with Minister of State Shekhawat on the occasion. The guests were served with delicious Pakistani cuisine and enchanting music in a welcoming ambiance, elegantly decorated in the lush green Chancery lawns with light works and floral arrangements. A slide show depicting Pakistan’s natural beauty and achievements in diverse fields over the past 70 years remained on display throughout the reception. *****