Prince William speech starting with salam and shukriya wins Pakistani hearts
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, on Tuesday paid tribute to all those who “endured sacrifice and helped build Pakistan to the country it is today”.
He made these remarks during his first official speech delivered during a reception at the Pakistan National Monument in Islamabad hosted by the British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew.
“For a country so young, Pakistan has endured many hardships, with countless lives lost to terror and hatred. Tonight I want to pay tribute to all those who have endured such sacrifice and helped to build the country that we see today,” said William.
Prince William spoke of the warm welcome and delicious food they had experienced in Pakistan after arriving on Monday evening and visiting local school children and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“The UK and Pakistan share unique bonds and so it will always be in our best interests for you to succeed,” William said at the event hosted by the British High Commission, adding that 1.5 million people living in the UK had Pakistani heritage and the UK was one of Pakistan’s top investors. “You can rely on us to keep playing an important role as a key partner and your friend.”
Emphasizing on the importance of educating the youth, the Prince said that it “will be the key that turns the country’s growing population into an engine of growth and help unlock this country’s enormous potential”.
Many prominent personalities were in attendance at the event, including Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Wasim Akram and wife Shaniera Akram, designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin of the HSY clothing brand, cricketer Mohammad Hafeez, actresses Mahira Khan, Mehwish Hayat, and singer Atif Aslam.
William was seen wearing traditional Pakistani attire for the first time since his arrival — a teal sherwani by Nauman Arfeen of Naushemian — while Kate wore a green embellished Jenny Packham gown. Kate’s earrings — gold plated with uncut crystal stones — belong to the popular London brand O’nitaa, and were sourced from Pakistan.