Chairman Long Yuxiang,

Members of PWAB,

Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Dear friends of Pakistan,

Distinguished Guests,

Good morning and Dajia Hao,

Allow me to begin by acknowledging the driving force behind the main event, the Eid Festival and now a fund raiser -- the Pakistan Women’s Association Beijing (PWAB) -- and especially my spouse Marium and her team. Their efforts remind us of what can be achieved when minds are aligned in purpose and service.

We had aimed to host Dil Se Pakistan Fundraiser on a much larger scale, a grand celebration to showcase our culture, and to shed light on our country’s soul and spirit. Over five thousand people had registered for this event. But circumstances around us changed, and so did our plans.

This event was originally scheduled to celebrate Eid, a moment of joy and unity. However, the wind advisory at the time forced us to postpone. Safety always comes first, and the well-being of our guests was paramount.

We rescheduled it for today, intending to mark the occasion with the same tone. However we had to adjust to a more reflective tone. And today, that reflection is deeper than we could have imagined.

We are living through a time of turbulence and turmoil unprecedented in nature and scale since the Second World War. We are increasingly witnessing impunity by large and powerful states. We have watched it on our screens in the case of cold blooded murder of thousands of innocent children and women in Gaza by an occupation regime in defiant violation of every tenet of law and humanity. We have another occupation regime in our eastern neighborhood that undertook illegal and unilateral actions against Pakistan: last month it violated our sovereignty and territorial integrity, committed aggression and martyred over three dozen innocent civilians including women and children. 

The images of these children, including the 7-year old nephew of a colleague from Foreign Service Fraternity, are harrowing. These were our people and their absence leaves a void no words can fill.

Equally alarming was the manipulation of narratives. We are witnessing conduct of a large state that aspires to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council while openly defying UN charter principles and this body’s resolutions. We are witnessing an extremely irresponsible behaviour by a country that claims to be the largest democracy in the world. This country doesn't consider itself bound by international norms and rule of law. It committed aggression against Pakistan without any investigation or presenting any evidence, all in the name of its mantra and bogey of terrorism.

What is more is that this country then engaged in perpetuating self-serving disinformation, belligerent and bellicose in tone. It peddled falsehoods and escalated tensions with alarming ease. The day and night parroting of scripted lies by leaders and most of the media poisoned public discourse and undermined the region’s fragile peace. The attempt to violate Pakistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty is to us – an unforgivable sin.

Pakistan, however, remains measured but determined. We responded not with noise, but with capability and conviction. In the past few days, our armed forces have reaffirmed what the world already knows: that Pakistan has both the will and the ability to defend its land, skies, and seas. Our responses have been precise, lawful, and responsible, rooted in our inherent right to self-defence. We signalled strength tempered by restraint.

So again, the question may arise: why hold this event at all?

Because resilience is part of who we are. Because we do not let adversity overshadow appreciation. And because today, above all, is about gratitude.

Dil Se Pakistan is our way of thanking those who stand with us. Our donors, our partners, our friends. You are the reason hope travels farther than fear.

The proceeds of today will go toward a cause that is profoundly human: the treatment and care of children with Thalassemia.

Thalassemia is a blood disorder that affects thousands of Pakistani children. Many of them require transfusions every few weeks, an ordeal no child should endure, but they do, with astonishing courage. What they need, beyond treatment, is continued awareness, support, and compassion. Today, your contributions will help bring those to them.

Let me close by expressing my heartfelt gratitude.

To PWAB, and to Marium and her dedicated team.

To all our partners and donors, especially our chief guest and top donor who has contributed 200,000 RMB.

And to every guest here today, your presence is a statement of solidarity.

Today is a promise. That no matter how trying the times, our hearts remain open, our values remain pristine, and our commitment to each other remains unwavering.

Thank you, and may we continue to serve, to stand, and to shine together.