ISLAMABAD, FEB 23 (DNA) -To commemorate the 150th celebration of Canadian Confederation, the High Commission of Canada organized a reception and a media talk on Thursday.

Reflecting on the country’s history, High Commissioner Perry Calderwood explained that in 1867, four colonies united to form a Confederation called Canada. Over the years, additional territories chose to join the country which grew to occupy the northern half of the North American continent.

 “From our British, French and Indigenous roots, we have opened our doors to cultures from around the world. The Canada of today is a peaceful, pluralistic society with strong democratic values,” he said.

The High Commissioner highlighted the multicultural aspect of the country and emphasized that Canada’s commitment to inclusiveness is reflected in the political leadership.

For the first time, Canada’s federal cabinet, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is characterized by gender parity with women occupying a number of the most important portfolios.

The cabinet includes several ministers who were born outside of Canada, including the Minister of Immigration, who came to Canada as a refugee from Somalia. “We are proud that all Canadians are equal, and can aspire to occupy the highest offices in the land, whether they became citizens last week, or their ancestors arrived in Canada millennia ago,” he said.

The High Commissioner observed that the Canada-Pakistan bilateral relationship dates back to the earliest days of Pakistan’s independence.

 Canada has a significant development cooperation program in Pakistan of about Cdn $67 million per year, Canadian-Pakistani bilateral trade reached approximately Cdn $1.5 billion in 2016, and ties between the Canadian and Pakistani peoples continue to grow.

The High Commission of Canada thanks all our friends and partners in Pakistan for joining us in celebrating this milestone anniversary.=DNA