Pakistan is a lucky nation to have good friends in the east and west, north and south. The friends always stand by Pakistan through thick and thin. Among them is Indonesia that not only helped Pakistan in controlling the cooking oil crisis in the country a few months ago but also sent urgent humanitarian relief aid after the floods played havoc in Pakistan.
Indonesia celebrated the 77th Anniversary of its Independence Day on 05 Oct 2022. Mr. and Mrs. Adam M. Tugio hosted a grand reception to celebrate this auspicious day in Islamabad at Serena Hotel that was well attended by highly placed officials, envoys, and other friends of Indonesia in Pakistan.
Indonesia achieved independence on August 17, 1945, from Dutch colonial rule. The struggle for freedom was not easy. It took four long years of agitation and diplomacy before Queen Juliana of the Netherlands formally granted Indonesia her independence. Preparations for the national holiday begin about three weeks before the actual date.
Buildings hoist red and white banners and glowing decorations. Malls wear the national red and white colors and offer special Independence Day sales and discounts. Red and white bunting drape the fences around the presidential palace, various government offices, and housing complexes. The words ‘Dirgahayu RI’ — meaning ‘Long Live Indonesia!’ — can be seen all around cities and towns throughout the country. The Constitution of Indonesia recommends every Indonesian fly the national flag in front of houses, office buildings, schools, and public institutions throughout the country on Independence Day.
Federal Minister for Industries and Production Division Makhdoom Syed Murtaza Mehmood and Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, Mushahid Hussain were the special guests on the occasion.
The Minister congratulated the Indonesian government and people on their Independence Day and said, ” Pakistan is keen to build strong bilateral and economic ties with Indonesia. We are thankful to the President of Indonesia for sending humanitarian relief to the flood-affected people of Pakistan. Indonesia helped Pakistan to address the cooking oil shortage crisis a few months ago by exporting the required quantity to Pakistan on an urgent basis.”
Ambassador, H.E Adam Mulawarman Tugio, in his welcome note said, ” the 77th Anniversary of Independence is another milestone for Indonesia marked with significant political and economic achievements. Now, Indonesia is the world’s third-largest democracy and a country where Islam and modernity coexist and deliver to bring economic progress, he expressed.”
Sharing Indonesia’s priorities as the chair of G-20, He added, ” The voices of developing countries and ensuring their participation in the development process were important parameters of Indonesia’s inclusive approach to Indonesia’s Presidency in G-20.”
He expressed his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the victims of the recent unprecedented flash floods in Pakistan. He added, “we believe that no nation alone can handle such a large-scale natural disaster, and it’s a shared responsibility of all to support people in distress. Indonesia stands with Pakistani brothers and sisters in this difficult time. Indonesian government dispatched humanitarian aid in-kind by two special aircrafts last month and a medical team with a US$1 million grant to support ongoing relief operations in Pakistan.”
Ambassador said, ” Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1947, Indonesia-Pakistan bilateral relations have continued to become stronger and more comprehensive. Pakistan strategically holds great importance for Indonesia as a trusted friend and partner in South Asia. With the rapidly expanding national economy and the growing importance of ASEAN as a trade hub, Indonesia offers wonderful investment opportunities and collaboration to our friends from the business community in Pakistan.”
Both sides are fully aware of the potential and benefits of cooperation and moving ahead by initiating various mechanisms, bilateral consultation forums, policy dialogue, trade promotion, and strengthening of people-to-people contacts to reap more fruits from productive engagement, the Ambassador concluded.
Mr. Mushahid Hussain cherished his memories of his young age when he was living in Indonesia. His father, a military officer, was the defense attache of Pakistan to Indonesia. He shared the exact address of his residence in Jakarta.
He also recalled the Bandung Conference 1955 held in Indonesia in which Non-Aligned Movement was launched. Pakistan was also an active participant in this conference.
The reception was attended by the envoys of ASEAN countries including Ambassadors of Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunie, Philippines. Diplomats from other countries were also present. Dean of Diplomatic Corp, Ambassador Turkmenistan, Mr. Atadjan Molamov, and other envoys of Central Asian Republics also graced the event with their presence.
Mr. Adam, Mrs. Irina Adam, and Mr. & Mrs. Defence Attache of Indonesia welcomed the guests, wearing traditional Indonesian dresses. The ladies were wearing beautiful golden crowns that attracted the attention of the guests.
Tazeen Akhtar
