Association of Pakistani Americans Hosted 34th Pakistan Flag Raising Ceremony and Taste of Pakistan Festival

Saturday, August 23, 2025. The Association of Pakistani Americans (APA), Bolingbrook, hosted the flag raising ceremony and “Taste of Pakistan” event, which drew an equally impressive turnout of locals, including Consul General of Pakistan Tariq Karim. The event drew thousands of participants from the Pakistani American community of diverse backgrounds. An estimated 15,000 people attended the event.

“The Pakistani people are still the greatest strength of the Boilingbrook Pakistani community,” said Consul General of Pakistan Tariq Karim at the flag raising ceremony. My request to the Association of Pakistani Americans (APA) is that they have been working continuously to raise the Pakistani flag for thirty-four years.

The event began with a recitation of the Holy Quran.

Talat Rasheed, founder of the APA, welcomed the guests. Talat Rasheed, founder of the Association of Pakistani Americans, had initiated the celebration and event thirty-three years ago. He currently serves as the Police Commissioner in Bolingbrook.

The event was attended by several representatives of the Village of Bolingbrook, high-ranking businessmen from nearby cities, state and local representatives, prominent community leaders, dignitaries including the Mayor of Bolingbrook, representatives of the Governor of the State of Illinois, representatives of many Illinois state officials, the Chairman of the School Board, the Head of the Village Commission and many others. At approximately 6:30 PM, Pakistan’s Consulate General in Chicago, Tariq Karim, Mayor Maryam Basta, Talat Rasheed and several other leaders hosted the hoisting of the Pakistani flag. The American and Pakistani national anthems were sung on the occasion.

During the ceremony, the Consul General delivered a speech in which he thanked the APA and the Village of Bolingbrook for initiating and sustaining the annual Pakistani flag-raising ceremony, which is completing 34 years of tradition this year. He highlighted not only the historical significance of the day but also Pakistan’s achievements since independence and the government’s reforms and initiatives in other areas, especially related to making the lives of Pakistani Americans abroad easier. He particularly appreciated the contribution of the Pakistani American community in the Midwest.

The organization was founded in 1991 by Pakistani-American Mr. Talat Rasheed. Each year, the Association of Pakistani Americans Bolingbrook (APA) welcomes at least 15,000 visitors. The APA is comprised of a select few officers.

Thousands of people turned out for an evening filled with food, entertainment and music. The event was co-hosted by Dr. Nadeem Lungi of Advanced Pediatric Care and Dr. Moazzam Saeed. They have been contributing to the event for the past twenty years. They also help and support a small number of poor families in Pakistan.

Police Officer Alexia Burton, Hum TV correspondent Naveed Alam, Consul General Tariq Karim and many others received the award.

More than 15,000 people arrived in Bolingbrook to watch the various singers, with the audience estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000. However, sources confirmed that at least 15,000 people were present. The highlight of the day was a Pakistani actor, Rahim Shah, who attracted the largest audience in the history of Bolingbrook during the 34th Pakistan Festival.

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