The nation celebrated the Independence Day Wednesday with a renewed pledge to rededicate its efforts towards nation-building as envisioned by Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The day dawned with thirty one-gun salute in the federal capital and twenty one-gun salute at the provincial capitals.Sirens were played at 8.59 am and all moving traffic on road‚ rail and sea came to a halt for one minute.Flag hoisting ceremonies were held at the provincial capitals and district headquarters besides other important national institutions.
A smartly-dressed contingent of Pakistan Naval Academy took over charge of guard duty at a change of guard ceremony at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi.Commodore of Pakistan Navy Zahid Ilyas laid a floral wreath at the Mazar and offered Fatiha. A change of guard ceremony was also held at Mazar-e-Iqbal.A Pakistan army squad took the guards’ responsibilities from Rangers .Garrison Commander Major General Shahid Baig Mirza laid a floral wreath at the Mazar and offered Fatiha.
Special programs were aired to highlight the importance of independence and struggle by our forefathers for an independent country.Newspapers e also published special editions to highlight significance of the Day.President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in their separate messages on the Independence Day have urged the nation to jointly work for a progressive‚ tolerant‚ moderate and pluralistic Pakistan. – Nation
