\'The expected growth of the Pakistan\'s economy at a robust rate of 5%, citing of Karachi Stock Exchange as the second best performing stock exchange in the world, gradual emergence of Pakistan as the next center of IT, and deepening of the democracy, both vertically and horizontally, make Pakistan the hottest destination for investment by global players\', said by Mr. Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Consul General of Pakistan

Asian Media USA Â©

Chicago IL:: Consulate General of Pakistan in Chicago celebrated the 69th Independence Day of Pakistan witht raditional zeal and fervor at the Daley Plaza Center in the morning of August 14, 2015. Over 500 people, representing the Pakistani, Asian, and American communities, attended the function. The atmosphere at the venue was charged with festivtiy and vibrancy of the Pakistani culture, with many people waving the flags and quite a few dressed in the colors of the national flag. The messages of the President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif were readout on the occasion.

The Secretary of State of Illinois Mr. Jesse White in his message congratulated the Government and people of Pakistan on behalf of the US Government. He also lauded the services of two hundred and fitfy thousand strong Pakistani-American communtiy living in the Midwest in building bridges between the two coutnries. Special messages by the representatives of Senator Mark Kirk, Governor Bruce Rauner, Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, Mayor Roger C. Claar of Bolingbrook, and Attorney General Lisa Madigan of Illinois were also read out.

While congratulating the Pakistani American communtiy of Midwest on the 69th Independence Day, the Consul General of Pakistan Faisal Niaz Tirmizi wholeheartedly commended the concerted efforts initiated by the Government of Pakistan in countering the evil forces of htared and terrorism with full force, which resulted in the considerable reduction in the incidence of etxremism and terrorism. \'The latest report of US Department of Defense, cites Pakistan as an inspiring and rare success story in global-wide fight against terror\', informed Tirmizi with a sense of pride. He expressed happiness over the improved securtiy situation in the coutnry and the stupendous work done by the Armed Forces of Pakistan in achieving this state of affairs.

Tirmizi, while applauding the Government\'s policies for economic development of the coutnry and creating opportunities for foreign investment, invited the global business communtiy to invest in Pakistan, which is world\'s 26th largest economy in terms of people\'s purchasing power. The Consul General shared that during the Investment Conference held in Islamabad in March 2015, Chicago sent the biggest contingent of businessmen for participation.

\'The expected growth of the Pakistan\'s economy at a robust rate of 5%, citing of Karachi Stock Exchange as the second best performing stock exchange in the world, gradual emergence of Pakistan as the next center of IT, and deepening of the democracy, both vertically and horizontally, make Pakistan the hottest destination for investment by global players\', added Tirmizi..

While the dynamic Pakistani American communtiy, across the USA, made significant cotnributions in the fields of Technology, Commerce, Education, Health, and Medicine, Tirmizi made references to their leading counterparts from Chicago, including Shahid Khan for getting figured in Fortune 500 Companies, Professor Tipu Siddique for taking up cutting-edge research, Choudhary Muneer and Choudhary Rasheed for creating huge employment, Ramzan Haji for grounding a major IT company, Khan Siddiqui for promoting a big start up, Farhan Masood for being named as the leading innovator by MIT, and Asif Khan and Fahad Aziz, two young graduates, for mobilizing USD 7 million for launching a socially-relevant venture.

Highlighting the valuable cotnributions made by Pakistan Consulate and Pakistani communtiy in Chicago, Tirmizi added that a soccer team of street children from Pakistan participated in the KICS Cup Chicago for the first time and ended as runners up.

Tirmizi informed the audience that, continuing a longt radition, Pakistan Day Parade will take place at Jinnah Avenue on August 16, 2015. A series of events are also being organized during the month of August in Cleveland, Kansas, Glendale Heights, Bolingbrook, Dteroit and other cities in the Midwest with significant Pakistani Diaspora.

The function was followed by a cultural etxravaganza, which was a fairy tale fusion of the dazzle of energetic dancing and the magic of soulful singing. The exhilarating and exuberant performances of various folk dances brought out the lively, spiritual and colorful life of Pakistan.

Mr. Amjad Rana, who performed on the song penned by famous Pakistani poet, Amjad Rana, celebrating the spirit of untiy across the four provinces of Pakistan, stole the thunder at the event. He enthralled the guests with his unique performance and had the audience on the edge of their seats. Not to be left behind were the kids, who presented a varitey of performances, which were much appreciated by the lively audience with cheers and applause.

Photographs and Press release by: Asian Media USA

Consulate General of Pakistan in Chicago Celebrated Pak Independence Day