Pakistani independence to be celebrated by local community

By Murray Silby

Aug 10, 2023

**Independence day:** Pakistani Association of the Goulburn Valley general secretary Kamran Malik and Usman Umer, the organiser of Shepparton’s Pakistan Independence Day celebrations, say their event will highlight the national language Urdu, and food, of course. Photo by Megan Fisher

Greater Shepparton’s Pakistani community will gather on Sunday for one of its biggest celebrations of the year.

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Pakistan Independence Day celebrates the nation’s independence from Britain and partition from India on August 14 in 1947.

“It is one of the biggest days for the community,” Pakistani Association of the Goulburn Valley general secretary Kamran Malik said.

“Like every country was born, so was Pakistan, established back in 1947.

“It’s all about singing the songs and national anthems (of Australia and Pakistan), more or less it’s about the national language of Pakistan, which is Urdu. We are promoting the youngsters, the kids to come forward and speak their national language.

“That’s the national language of Pakistan followed by a few dialects, which we might be promoting as well. If a kid comes forward with a different language, why not?”

There are around 35 to 40 families with Pakistani heritage living in the Goulburn Valley, mostly in Greater Shepparton, but families from Yarrawonga, Albury and Echuca are also expected to attend the celebrations.

Event organiser Usman Umer said, like most cultures, the Pakistani community’s celebrations would be centred around food, as much as the other events planned.

“The food is another vital thing they enjoy,” he said.

“Around 10 different dishes, so people can get together and enjoy the food as well.”

Pakistani community members wanting to attend can contact organisers by emailing pagv1947@gmail.com