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UK High Commissioner’s message on Pakistan’s republic day

On behalf of the British government, I salute Pakistan and its people for their resilience, pride, sacrifices and generosity of spirit, over all the years of the republic.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Adam Thomson, British High Commissioner to Pakistan

Adam Thomson, British High Commissioner to Pakistan

It is a pleasure to write on the occasion of Pakistan’s Republic Day. This is a significant milestone. On behalf of the British government, I salute Pakistan and its people for their resilience, pride, sacrifices and generosity of spirit, over all the years of the republic.

This year is particularly important for Pakistan’s democratic history - the first time in decades that there will have been a democratic transfer of power between one civilian government to another. The elections in May will be a crucial milestone on the journey towards a strong, stable and democratic Pakistan; a Pakistan that visionaries dreamt of at the time of the 1940 Pakistan Resolution. It is our hope that these elections will be a moment that people look back on and say this is when the trajectory of Pakistan changed. Elections according to the Pakistan’s constitution are important for the future of UK - Pakistan relations, the strength of our history, inward investment, family ties, development assistance and so much more. For us it is not about who is in power; it’s about a democratic process, a system functioning within its constitutional framework and building greater accountability to its people. The bonds between the UK and Pakistan make it all the more of a privilege to serve in Pakistan and all the more important that the UK and Pakistan do all they can to support each other’s potential.

We wish Pakistan well on its Republic Day.

Published 22 March 2013