Preparations underway to celebrate August 14 with zeal, says Rana Mashhood

Ministers says role of national heroes will be highlighted through various events

LAHORE: The provincial government has started preparations for Independence Day celebrations. A steering committee had been formed to submit a report in this regard to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif within a week. This was stated by Education Minister Rana Mashhood, head of the committee, at a meeting on Friday.

Mashhood said that speech, essay writing and sports competitions and seminars would be arranged at the union council, tehsil, district and provincial level to highlight the importance of the day. Flag hoisting ceremonies and competitions of painting, singing and poetry recitation would also be held to mark the day, he added.

The minister said that the purpose of these events would be to highlight the role of national heroes in the struggle for independence. He said district administrations would set up stalls and floats where information about national heroes and the country’s culture and history would be displayed for the general public. He said preparation of stalls and floats should be completed for exhibition by August 4.



He said the administrations would hold ceremonies to honour people who had performed well in various sectors. Provincial government departments would hold sessions to sensitise the public about various development schemes initiated by the government, he said.

Mashhood said that the provincial government would celebrate the Independence Day with zeal and fervour. “It is a day when we pay homage to the leaders and workers of the Pakistan Movement by remembering their sacrifices for our freedom. The day reminds us of our pledge to transform the country in accordance with Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s ideals,” he said.

He urged people from all segments of the society, particularly the youngsters, to participate in the Independence Day events. He said all provincial departments would hold special programmes to mark the occasion.

Mashhood said the Archives Department would arrange exhibition of rare photos and other items related to the Pakistan Movement. He said special functions would be arranged at public libraries to encourage the habit of reading among the public.



The minister said national flags should be hoisted at all important public buildings at the union council level. He called upon the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz workers to actively participate in the Independence Day events.

Higher Education Minister Zakia Shahnawaz said programmes should be held across the province to pay tribute to prominent women workers of the Pakistan Movement including Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan, Shahista Ikram Ullah and Begum Shahnawaz.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2016.