Nation celebrates Independence Day with patriotic zeal today

Islamabad: The nation is celebrating Independence Day today with a renewed pledge to work with the spirit of the Pakistan Movement to make the country a true Islamic welfare state.

The day dawned with a thirty-one-gun salute at the Federal Capital and a twenty-one-gun salute at provincial headquarters.

Special prayers were offered in mosques for peace, solidarity, and prosperity of the country.

The main flag hoisting ceremony was held at the Pakistan Monument in Islamabad, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hoisted the national flag.

Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, cabinet members, parliamentarians and school students were present on the occasion.

Flag hoisting ceremonies were also held at provincial capitals of the country.

In Punjab, main ceremony was held at Governor House in Lahore, where Acting Governor Punjab Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan hoisted the national flag.

Meanwhile, Corps Commander Lahore, Lieutenant General Fayyaz Hussain Shah, visited Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum.

He laid a floral wreath at the mausoleum of the national poet and philosopher, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, and offered Fateha.

In Karachi, a flag hoisting ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Quaid, where Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah hoisted the national flag.

A national flag hoisting ceremony was also held at Police Lines in Dera Ismail Khan, where Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, hoisted the national flag.

In Balochistan, flag ceremony was held in Quetta where Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti along with Speaker Balochistan Assembly Abdul Khaliq Achakzai hoisted the National flag.

Prime Minister AJK Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq hoisted the flag at a ceremony in Muzaffarabad.

Likewise, main ceremony of flag hoisting was held at Chinar Bagh Gilgit where Gilgit-Baltistan Home Minister Shamsul Haq Lone hoisted the national flag and laid a wreath of flowers at the monument of the martyrs.

It is pertinent to mention that recent victory in the Marka-e-Haq against India's unprovoked aggression has amplified nation's fervor for this year's celebrations of the Independence Day.  

Buildings have been decorated with national flags, buntings and lights.

People have raised national flags on their vehicles and rooftop of their houses.  Radio Pakistan is also broadcasting special programs to mark the day.