Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Foreign Minister of Pakistan.

My dear fellow Pakistanis,

On this 14 August, it gives me great pleasure to wish you all a very happy 75th anniversary of our independence. On this auspicious occasion, we honour the indefatigable and extraordinary efforts of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his companions that led to the creation of Pakistan , our indepen dent homeland. We also pay tribute to the immense sacrifices rendered by our forefathers in the freedom struggle. It is also an occasion to celebrate our endeavors of the past 75 years, an occasion to celebrate our people, our progress, our youth, our art, culture, our sportsmen and women and much more. Ladies and Gentlemen: The journey of the past 75 years has seen ups and downs. Pakistan has battled against odds both at external as well as internal fronts. However, we have always overcome these challenges with resilience and perseverance. It is a matter of great pride that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has been part of this journey since the very beginning and has been diligently working since then to keep the national flag high all over the world.

The Foreign Office we see today has evolved from its basic existence in Karachi in 1947 to: - utilizing modern tools and technology to improve consular services - make use of new communication tools to reach out foreign audiences - use Public Diplomacy to push fresh narratives - Build partnerships - Strengthen bilateral relations - Maintain a strong presence at multi lateral fora Foreign Office continues...