Pakistani high commissioner to Canada Tariq Azim Khan inaugurated Jinnah Park at Winnipeg in Manitoba on Sunday, April 13. The park is first of its kind in North America.
Inauguration of Jinnah Park in Canada
Hundreds of people from across Canada attended the vibrant ceremony of the park in Manitoba being named after Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Apart from Pakistani High Commissioner Tariq Azim Khan, other government officials who joined the Pakistani community in the ceremony reportedly included the members of parliament Terry Duguid and Iqra Khalid, City Councilor Janice Luke, community leader Dr. Rashid Bahri Pakistani Students Associations Manitoba president Masroor Ali Khan.
Thank you to Manitoba’s Pakistani community for inviting me to Friday’s Inaugural Muhammad Ali Jinnah Awards dinner and allowing me the opportunity to participate at Saturday’s Jinnah Park naming ceremony in South Pointe. #Pakistan Zindabad! #mbpoli ???? pic.twitter.com/MaTSUHqJRJ
— Jon Reyes, MLA (@jonreyes204) 13 May 2018
What did Pakistani High Commissioner Say
While addressing the ceremony, Pakistani High commissioner Tariq Azim Khan admired the community’s endeavor for making this achievement. He referred to the Quaid-e- Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s famous quote and said, “With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to the duty, there is nothing worthwhile you can’t achieve.”
He further opined that Pakistani community in Canada is working to spread the soft image of Pakistan through cultural galas, which is acting as a bridge to promote understanding between the countries.
According to media reports, City Councilor Janice Luke seemed happy for working with the Pakistani community. She also aimed for maintaining the park and making it a worth visiting place for families and a venue for cultural galas.
Talking about, founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Janice said, “He was a dynamic visionary leader, he was a great political thinker and strategist… And, Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a firm believer in democratic values.”
Other leaders who attended the ceremony also addressed the audience and congratulated the Pakistani community for such an achievement.
At the end of the ceremony, the crowd cheered the slogans of “long live Pakistan and long live Pakistan- Canada friendship”.
Jinnah Park in Canada and Reaction of Pakistani Community
The recently inaugurated Jinnah Park in Canada is significant for being a first of its kind in North America. According to a 2011 survey Pakistanis make for the largest foreign-born group in Canada, a culturally diverse country that has also passed anti-Islamophobia law. Hence, it was more likely for the community to quickly have a park named after the founder of their native land.
Pakistani people who have a great affection for the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed their excitement for the newly named Jinnah Park in Canada through social media.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah Park in Manitoba Canada which is the first ever park to be named after Quaid-i-Azam. #Pakistanzindabad ?? pic.twitter.com/fk7RoF3TbP
— Omer Choudhary (@Omerchoudhary2) 12 May 2018
Finally, the first ever park in North America to be named after Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Proud to be a part of the inauguration. Congratulations to all the Pakistanis in Manitoba on this achievement. Long Live PSA. Long Live Pakistan. Pakistan Zindabad ?? pic.twitter.com/vUPoQCcYPk
— Shaharyar Noordin (@sharrufit) 14 May 2018
