Abu dhabi: The Pakistani diaspora in the United Arab Emirates celebrated Pakistan's Independence Day with heartfelt patriotism and pride. Flag-hoisting ceremonies were held at the Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai, drawing families from across the emirates.

According to Radio Pakistan, Pakistan's Ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, hoisted the national flag at the Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi. He joined families and community members in honoring the national day with pride and enthusiasm. In his national day message, Ambassador Tirmizi reflected on the enduring values of unity, faith, and discipline as the guiding lights for Pakistan's future.

He paid tribute to Pakistan's resilience and unity in the face of challenges and celebrated recent historic successes in national defense. The Ambassador praised the Pakistani diaspora's role in building bridges between the two nations, noting their contribution of 7.9 billion dollars in remittances last year and their invaluable service to the UAE's growth.

The Ambassador announced the launch of an online passport and National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) tracking system, commending the mission's IT team for the innovation. He also revealed that more Pakistani private schools are now being approached to open branches in the UAE, promising better access to quality and affordable education.

This year's celebrations reached a historic high with a grand gathering on the 10th of this month at Dubai Expo City, attended by an estimated 60,000 community members.