THE Olympic torch arrived in Pakistan yesterday on the first leg of its relay in Asia. President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani attended a ceremony to mark the event in Islamabad.

“I welcome the Beijing 2008 Olympic torch relay on its ‘Journey of Harmony.’ Let me convey my strong sentiments to Beijing and wish them the best of luck at the Beijing Olympic Games,” said Musharraf.

“We in Islamabad, share the Beijing’s enormous pride as the host of the Olympic Games. I hope the world will witness determination, passion and strength, which are the hallmark of the Chinese nation. I wish them all the best and hope that they will always cherish the memories of their short stay in Pakistan.”

The torch, touring the world ahead of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August, arrived in a chartered plane from Muscat at an airbase in the nearby city of Rawalpindi.

The colorful ceremony took place inside a sports stadium in Islamabad after organizers canceled the planned route through the capital at the last minute citing security concerns.

Musharraf and Gilani put aside their political differences and held the torch together after it was lit, before passing it on to Samiullah Khan, a former field hockey player.

“Here today we the people of Pakistan confirm our commitment to lighting the passion and sharing the dream of global harmony,” said Gillani.

Youngsters waved Pakistani flags and cheered as the flame was brought on a traditional horse-driven chariot. The army band played to herald the arrival of the torch.

“It is indeed a great honor for Pakistan and its capital Islamabad to be included in the torch relay for the Beijing Olympics,” Pakistan Olympic Association chairman Arif Hassan said in a speech.

He said the event would help improve the image of the country.

“I think it’ll send a clear message to the whole world that they’ll be seeing the real face of Pakistan.”

Former squash star Jahangir Khan is set to light the cauldron at the end of the relay, which will involve around 60 people, Pakistani sources said.

The torch’s next stop will be the Indian capital New Delhi today.

(SD-Xinhua)