Massive Crowd Attended Bolingbrook Taste of Pakistan

On August 24, 2024, the Pakistani community in Bolingbrook celebrated Pakistan's 77th Independence Day with great enthusiasm. In recent weeks, there have been a number of events in and around Chicago to commemorate Pakistan's 77th anniversary of independence.

The flag-raising ceremony and the "Taste of Pakistan" event, organized by the Association of Pakistani Americans (APA), Bolingbrook, attracted an equally impressive number of locals, including Pakistan Consul General Tariq Karim. The event attracted thousands of participants from the Pakistani American community of various backgrounds. An estimated fifteen thousand people attended in order to take advantage of the event.

At the flag-raising ceremony, Pakistan Consul General Tariq Karim said, "The people of Pakistan continue to be the greatest strength of the Boiling Brook Pakistani community." I beseech the Association of Pakistani Americans (APA) to continue to fly the Pakistani flag for thirty-three years by working continuously.

The ceremony began with the Holy Quran being recited with the customary assistance from translations. The founder of the APA, Talat Rashid, congratulated guests. The Association of Pakistani Americans' founder, Talat Rasheed, launched the celebration and event thirty-three years ago. He serves as a police commissioner in Bolingbrook at the moment.
The event was attended by a number of representatives from the Village of Bolingbrook, high-ranking businesspeople from nearby cities, state and local representatives, prominent community leaders, dignitaries including the Mayor of Bolingbrook, a representative of the Governor of the State of Illinois, representatives of many Illinois state officials, the chair of the school board, the village commissioner, and many others. roughly 6:30 p.m. The Consulate General of Pakistan in Chicago, Tariq Karim, Mayor Mary Basta, Talat Rasheed, and a number of other leaders hosted the raising of the Pakistani flag. On this occasion, both the American and Pakistani national anthems were sung.

During the event, the Consul General gave a speech in which he expressed gratitude to the APA and the Village of Bolingbrook for initiating and sustaining the annual Pakistan flag hoisting ceremony, which this year marks 33 years of the tradition. He underlined not just the historical significance of the day but also Pakistan's achievements since independence and the government's reforms and initiatives in other areas, particularly those related to easing the lives of Pakistani Americans abroad. He especially valued the contributions made by the Pakistani-American community in the Midwest.
Mr. Talat Rashid, a Pakistani American, founded an organization in 1991. Every year, the Association of Pakistani Americans Bolingbrook (APA) welcomes at least 15,000 visitors. The APA consisted of more than a few elected officials.
Thousands of people turned out for the food, entertainment, and music-filled evening. The event was supported by Drs. Nadeem Longi and Moazzam Saeed of Advanced Pediatric Care. They have contributed to this event for the preceding fifteen years. They also help and support Pakistan's small number of impoverished families.

Over 15,000 people flocked to Bolingbrook to witness a number of vocalists, including local performer Shariq Rumi, play live for over an hour. The discussion about the size of the audience persisted, with estimates ranging from 10,000 to 15,000. However, natural sources verified that there were at least 15,000 people present. The highlight of the day was Humaira Arshad, a Pakistani performer who, during the 33rd Taste of Pakistan Festival, drew the largest audience in Boiling Brook history.

People came with their friends and family from all around the Chicago area and suburbs to commemorate Pakistani Festival Day.