By Roy Lie Atjam
The Hague, 20 May 2025 – H.E. Mr. Syed Haider Shah, the Ambassador of Pakistan, proudly hosted a reception to celebrate the significant milestone of the Lahore Resolution adopted on 23 March 1940, which was instrumental in the establishment of the Republic of Pakistan in 1947. The event took place in the beautiful garden of Pakistan House, the official residence of the Ambassador.
This National Day reception served as Ambassador Syed Haider Shah’s inaugural event since his arrival in the Netherlands a few months ago, marking a strong beginning to his diplomatic stint in the Netherlands.
The reception attracted a diverse group of attendees, including ambassadors and diplomats from various countries, members of the business community, academics, government representatives, friends of Pakistan, and members of the Pakistani diaspora.
Ambassador Syed Haider Shah delivered powerful welcome remarks, asserting the significance of the gathering and the relationships it fosters.
This is what he said: “In the nearly eight decades since independence, we have witnessed profound changes at home, in our region, and around the world.
We, therefore, mark our National Day with solemnity, remembering those whose sacrifices and struggles made our independence possible. It is also a reminder of the unfinished task before us: to achieve our collective objectives of peace and prosperity. The national anthem you just heard celebrates our land and our people — reflecting our unity, our resolve, and our ideals of progress and excellence. These ideals continue to guide us as we look to the future.
Pakistan is a vibrant nation — the fifth most populous in the world — situated in a region brimming with opportunities. We are home to a rich tapestry of cultures. Those of you who have been to Pakistan, I warmly invite you to visit us again. For those who have not yet had the chance, I say Khush Amdeed. You are most welcome to visit Pakistan and discover its beauty and hospitality.
We are a nation gifted with many talents. Cricket fans know that our team can defeat even the most formidable opponent on a given day. We also have a proud history in field hockey and squash. Beyond sports, our artists, writers, poets, and musicians have left their mark internationally, and our scientists, scholars and intellectuals have contributed to global scholarship in many fields. Notably, Pakistan’s first (and the longest-serving) Ambassador to the Netherlands was a remarkable woman — Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan — who blazed a path that has inspired and continues to inspire generations of women in Pakistan.
This year, I would like to dedicate our National Day to peace — not merely peace as the absence of war and violence, but peace built on empathy, respect and reason that leads to shared progress. Just last Friday, Pakistan celebrated the triumph of peace, reminding us that peace must be continually nurtured, that it requires collective efforts at all levels and across all nations, that it requires honoring our international obligations, building trust, and promoting mutual cooperation through multilateralism.
Pakistan remains firmly committed to peace and to upholding the principles of international law and the UN Charter. Our focus is on socio-economic development — eliminating poverty and providing basic services and opportunities to all our citizens — because we firmly believe these lay the foundation for lasting peace and prosperity.
We also believe that all conflicts and disputes, including those in Palestine and Jammu & Kashmir, must be resolved through peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. Our common future hinges on creating an inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous community of nations committed to dialogue and understanding, genuine respect and inclusivity.
As we celebrate today, we also reflect on the strong and friendly relations between Pakistan and the Netherlands. Our bilateral friendship rests on solid foundations of mutual respect and trust. We have a long history of cooperation across a range of areas — political, trade and investment, climate change and water management, education, culture, and more. As Pakistan’s Ambassador, I am proud to say that our relationship grows stronger with each passing year.
Just last year, we joyfully celebrated the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-Netherlands diplomatic relations. In the same spirit we look forward to organizing a series of events from cricket and hockey matches to mango festivals in the coming weeks and months. I would be remiss not to thank our partners at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their constant support in organizing such events.
On the political front, our two countries maintain a regular and constructive dialogue on bilateral, regional, and global issues. In January of this year, we had the pleasure of hosting H.E. Mr. Christiaan Rebergen, the Secretary-General of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Islamabad for bilateral consultations.
Economically, the partnership between Pakistan and the Netherlands continues to thrive. The Netherlands has become Pakistan’s second-largest export destination within the EU and remains a key source of Foreign Direct Investment.
We are proud that many renowned Dutch companies have a successful and long-standing presence in Pakistan. From food and agriculture, to telecommunications, ports, shipping, and energy, one can find a significant footprint of Dutch enterprises. Building on the success stories of these companies, we are eager to explore new frontiers of economic collaboration.
Pakistan welcomes the interest of the Dutch business community, and we invite you to explore the wealth of opportunities our country offers — from a large consumer market and a young workforce to a strategic location as a gateway to South and Central Asia. We see great potential for new joint ventures in areas such as innovation and technology, renewable energy and sustainable development, and modern agriculture and agri-tech, to name just a few.
Before I conclude, I want to pay special tribute to the more than 30,000 members of the Pakistani community in the Netherlands. This dynamic diaspora serves as a living bridge between our two countries – whether as professionals, as entrepreneurs or as ordinary citizens.
I am also very happy to see that with each passing year, more Pakistani students choose the Netherlands for higher studies and research, building lifelong connections in the process.
On a personal note, I fondly recall my own days as a student at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague – just a short walk from here. I am truly grateful for that opportunity and experience.
Finally, I extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for honoring us with your presence this evening. I now invite you to enjoy the traditional Pakistani cuisine. “
This year, the National Day was dedicated to peace — peace built on empathy, respect and reason that leads to shared progress. The celebration in The Hague, has been a joyous occasion.
