The Indian High Commission in Islamabad has extended an invitation to Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi, Chairman of the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan, to participate in the official function commemorating India’s 76th Republic Day. The reception is set to take place at the Serena Hotel, Islamabad, and was initiated by Geetika Srivastava, Charge d’Affaires of the Indian High Commission.
Expressing goodwill, Qureshi congratulated the people of India on Republic Day on behalf of Pakistan. He envisioned 2025 as a pivotal year for fostering friendship between the two nations. He stated, “Poverty will be removed from both countries, unemployment will end, and prosperity will come to the people. It will be a year of restoration of public relations.”
Qureshi emphasized the need for easing visa formalities, particularly to facilitate visits to shrines and religious sites in both countries. He highlighted the potential for stronger people-to-people connections, which could lead to better mutual understanding.
Referencing a recent delegation from India that participated in the World Punjabi Conference in Lahore, Qureshi called for more such cultural exchanges. He advocated for organizing events on both sides of Punjab and restoring trade, which would benefit farmers, manufacturers, and consumers in both nations. “We should find ways to fight poverty, unemployment, and other common issues,” he added.
The Qureshi family, which migrated from Sukhera Basti, Abohar, to West Punjab during the Partition in 1947, has long championed the legacy of martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru. They have worked to promote love and respect for these icons of India’s independence movement.
This invitation and the sentiments shared by Qureshi underline a hopeful step toward bridging divides and rekindling the historical and cultural ties between India and Pakistan. Both nations stand to gain from strengthening cooperation and addressing shared challenges together.