Dreams and patriotism: Pakistan Day marked across city with parade, seminars

LAHORE:

The 76th Pakistan Day was marked in the City with traditional zeal on Wednesday.

The day started with a 21-gun salute by Pakistan Army at Mehfooz Shaheed Garrison. Special prayers were organised in mosques after Fajr prayers for progress and prosperity of the country.

A series of events had been organised by the provincial and district government. This included the Azm-i-Pakistan parade organised to commemorate the Lahore Resolution of March 23, 1940 and the adoption of the Constitution.

The parade attracted scores of visitors. It was organised by the city district government in collaboration with the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), town administrations, Lahore police, the traffic police and Rescue 1122. Various public and private educational institutes, actors, singers, athletes and circus artists participated in the parade.

Thousands of citizens participated in the parade at Gulberg Main Boulevard. Police had made special security arrangements in this regard. All roads to the venue were blocked with containers. Five entry points were marked by the CDGL where walk-through gates had been installed.

Many citizens complained about the inconvenience caused by road blocks. They said they had to walk for several kilometres to join the parade. Service lanes and corridors of commercial plazas on both sides of the boulevard were filled with enthusiastic crowds. Participants chanted patriotic slogans. Singers and musicians encouraged the participants to sing patriotic songs with them.

Performers from Lucky Irani Circus, puppets from Rafi Peer Theatre, jokers and cartoon characters, heavy bikes, vintage cars and a huge Spiderman attracted children.

Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Lahore Commissioner Abdullah Khan Sumbal, DCO Muhammad Usman, CCPO Amin Wains and Operations DIG Haider Ashraf also participated in the parade.

A large number of Chinese visitors also participated in the parade. The PHA had also arranged a fireworks display at Minar-i-Pakistan, Race Course Park and Gulshan Iqbal Park at the conclusion of Azm-i-Pakistan Parade.

Educational institutions mark Pakistan Day

Seminars and competitions were organised at several educational institutions across the City.

A seminar titled Role of Minorities in the Pakistan Movement was held at the Forman Christian College University (FCCU). Minority Affairs and Human Rights Minister Khalil Tahir Sindhu was the chief guest.

Sindhu highlighted efforts by minorities communities in the Pakistan Movement and spoke on their role in the country’s development.

He urged students to play a positive role for the country. He also spoke on the government’s initiatives for protection of minority rights, which included the formation of a Minority Advisory Committee.

Assistant Professor of Religion and Public Policy Charles Ramsey, Hindu Sudhar Sabha President Amarnath Randhawa and National Council of Churches in Pakistan Executive Secretary Victor Azariah also spoke at the seminar.

They shared their views on the role of minorities at the time of the Partition and spoke of the leading minority figures at the time.

The University of Education (UoE) organised a painting and float-decoration competition at its Township campus. More than 50 students participated in the competition.

UoE Vice Chancellor Rauf-i-Azam praised skills of the participants.

“March 23rd is a day of love for and commitment with Pakistan. This day reminds us of the great sacrifices and struggles of our forefathers.”

UoE Registrar Manzoom Akhter and Students Affairs Director Umer Saleem were also present on the occasion.

Later, certificates were distributed among students who participated in the competitions.

On Tuesday, the Government College University (GCU) had held an All-Punjab National Songs Competition at the Alhamra Hall. Education Minister Rana Mashhood was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony.

In the girls’ category, Nimra Roy of Kinnaird College was declared the best signer of national songs while Sabiha Afazal of Lahore College for Women University and Komal Mirza of the GCU secured the second and third the positions, respectively.

Among boys, Usama Babar of the GCU secured the top position while Ghufran Chishti of the Punjab University and Qaim Ali of the University of Lahore were declared second and third, respectively. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2016.