Flag-hosting ceremonies, special prayers and a sense of patriotism and joy marked the dawn of the 73rd Independence Day of Pakistan that was celebrated with national zeal and zest throughout Punjab.
The celebrations of the Independence Day began in a usual fashion, with the clock striking 12:00am, kick-starting fireworks throughout the city of Lahore. Celebrations on roads, however, were cut short in less than an hour into the day due to the heavy but scattered downpour. Shopping by families for Independence Day novelties from roadside stalls interestingly continued till after celebration on roads had subsided.
The government offices and many private residences were decorated with buntings of the national flag and beautiful lights. A rally was taken out in Lahore, under the name ride for Pakistan.
The main flag-hoisting ceremony was held at the Lahore Fort by Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar while Governor Punjab Muhammad Sarwar performed the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Government College University of Lahore.
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Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar laid a flower wreath on the grave of Allama Muhammad Iqbal at Hazoori Bagh and offered fateha. He prayed for the national prosperity and success of the freedom struggle of Kashmiris from Indian occupation. Khateeb Badhshahi Masjid Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad led the prayer.
Afterwards, Buzdar also performed the national flag-hoisting ceremony at Alamgiri Gate of Lahore Fort. The national anthem was aired after the flag-hoisting.
Addressing the ceremony at Hazoori Bagh on Friday, Buzdar said the Independence Day was an occasion of joy and happiness for every citizen of the country. “I extend heartiest felicitations to the nation on the 73rd birthday of Pakistan,” he added.
“It is an occasion to pay rich tributes to the Pakistan Movement activists and martyrs. The Independence Day reminds us that the blessing of freedom is the result of countless sacrifices and the great struggle of millions of Muslims and it was not doled out to us.”
The CM maintained that the immortal sacrifices have given us the lesson of continuous struggle to make Pakistan great and strong.
“We cannot forget the Kashmiris on this Independence Day as these brave people have been sacrificing their lives in the occupied territory. August 14 is a day to reiterate the commitment to make Pakistan great and strong and the nation is united for this cause.”
He stressed the need for working hard to make Pakistan stronger and prosperous. “Every individual will have to perform his duty honestly. The democracy will be strengthened in future while the economy and defence sectors will also be stronger and impregnable,” the CM added.
Administrator Lahore Metropolitan Corporation Danish Afzal presented the address of welcome. Provincial Ministers Raja Basharat, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Saeedul Hassan Shah, Ejaz Alam, parliamentarians, Consul Generals of Turkey and China, Deputy Consul General of Turkey, Chief Secretary, IG Police and others attended the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid hoisted the national flag on the Independence Day at the Fatima Jinnah Medical University.
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“By the grace and blessings of Almighty Allah, the number of coronavirus patients is declining. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has developed its manifesto according to the vision of Quaid-i-Azam,” she asserted.
“We have to serve Pakistan at all costs. Health professionals have always played a key role in times of crisis. Our doctors and staff members who lost their lives during Pandemic will be remembered in history for their immense services. We have sacrificed thousands of lives for independence and every single person matters in the progress of the nation.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2020.
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