WASHINGTON, 16 August, 2026 (Ghufran): A statue of Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has been permanently installed at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C., adding a historic and national character to Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations.The statue was unveiled by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh during a ceremony held at the embassy on Friday. The event was attended by members of the Pakistani-American community, diplomats and media representatives.The statue was gifted to the Embassy of Pakistan by the Quaid-i-Azam Foundation, based in Houston, and will remain permanently installed at the embassy.The installation comes as Pakistan prepares to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah this year. Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh paid tribute to the founder of Pakistan for his historic political struggle and tireless efforts for the creation of the country.The Independence Day ceremony commenced with the hoisting of the national flag, followed by the national anthem and recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. Messages from the President, Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan on the occasion were also read out.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Sheikh highlighted the significance of Pakistan-US relations, saying Pakistan remained important to the United States at both regional and global levels. He noted that the two countries were cooperating in a number of areas of mutual interest.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also highlighted bilateral cooperation in his Independence Day message for Pakistan. Areas of cooperation include regional mediation, critical minerals, energy, counterterrorism, cultural heritage, trade and investment.Pakistan’s role in regional mediation has gained further significance amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran. Pakistan has sought to utilise its relations with both Washington and Tehran to facilitate dialogue and contribute to efforts aimed at reducing tensions.During the ceremony, Pakistani-American community leader and cultural ambassador Waqar Ali Khan was also conferred the President’s Medal for Pride of Performance in recognition of his decades-long services.