Sindh lights up on Pakistan Day

Faculty and students of Sindh University, Jamshoro, carry 200 meters long flag in a rally

KARACHI/ HYDERABABD: Pakistan Day was celebrated across Sindh with government officials, political parties, educational institutions and even ordinary citizens organising celebratory events and taking out rallies. Government buildings, educational institutions, monuments and the roads were decorated with buntings and illuminated with colourful lights.

Ceremonies to mark the day were held in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, Nawabshah, Dadu, Sanghar, Naushehro Feroz and other parts of Sindh.



Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah along with his cabinet ministers on Saturday a paid visit to the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Talking to the media later, Shah said, "This year, we faced Indian aggression on our borders but our army responded so strongly that the enemy had to go defensive". He added that the message of `Pakistan Day' was loud and clear, "We have to unite like a strong nation, and we have to identify our enemies who want to destroy peace and brotherhood by making terrorist attacks on peaceful citizens".

He said that we should remember the services of our leaders like Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto- the former made Pakistan a nuclear nation and the latter launched the missile programme. "They made the defence our beloved country strong in the region," he said.

Addressing the media outside the mausoleum, Sindh governor and CM urged the nation to follow the principles of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. They said that only a united nation could defend the country. March 23, 1940 was a historic day when the Pakistan Resolution was passed, which paved the way for creation of Pakistan, they added.

Celebrations at varsities

At Hyderabad Development Authority's (HDA) Secretariat on Saturday, the government officials hoisted the national flag while a musical band of students and scouts played the national anthem. In Sindh University Jamshoro, the faculty and students carried a 200 meters long national flag in a rally around the campus in Jamshoro district.

"Pakistan was created in the name of Islam after a very long struggle and after hundreds of thousands of people sacrificed their lives," said Hyderabad Commissioner Muhammad Abbass Baloch who was speaking at HDA Secretariat. Baloch paid tribute to soldiers of Pakistan Army for defending the country's borders on the land, sea and air. "There are many challenges obstructing the development and progress of the country. The nation can only collectively surmount these challenges," he said.

Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Acting Mayor Suhail Mashadi asked the people to remember the sacrifices rendered by forefathers for the country's freedom. Addressing the faculty and students in the SU, Vice Chancellor Dr Fateh Muhammad Burfat said "I feel proud to share that Sindh had a vital role in creation of Pakistan". He shared that Pakistan Muslim League won majority seats in Sindh in 1946 general elections and Sindh Assembly was the first to pass the resolution in favour of Pakistan.

He said that his university has prepared the 200 meters long national flag for the third time. The Sindh Agriculture University also organised a rally and a sports event to mark the day.

Addressing a ceremony at Karachi University (KU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan said intolerance and extremism have emerged to be serious threats for country and must be eliminated.

He said the day reminds us about the dedicated leadership and determined people who were part of the Pakistan Movement and their unforgettable struggle for the creation of our country. "We must remember that intolerance and extremism have emerged serious dangers perhaps more threatening than any other challenge".

Acknowledging the contributions made by the armed forces in defending the national frontiers and being equally engaged in the war against terrorism, he said it was collective responsibility to standby the defenders of the country. "Now is the right time to uproot the mind-sets that foster extremism, terrorism and intolerance in the country in general and in Karachi in particular," said the KU VC.

Rally in Larkana

In Larkana, Additional Commissioner Syed Arbab Ali Shah led a rally in which citizens, teachers and students participated. In their slogans the people expressed love for the motherland and sang national songs. "The dream of March 23, 1940, was realized on August 14, 1947," said Shah.

He felt that the day reminded the people that they live an independent country. He asked the people to make a vow to defend every inch of the country from aggression of hostile countries.

A large number of students, teachers, representatives of non-governmental organisations and notable citizens, besides the government officials, took part in a ceremony which took place in Nawabshah. Deputy Commissioner Abrar Ahmed Jaffar said that the dream of a stable and prosperous Pakistan could only be realised when the whole nation contributes their part in achieving that goal.

Celebrations were held in all other districts and divisional headquarters of the province.

With additional reporting from PPI and APP 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2019.