The historic Jalal Baba Auditorium in Abbottabad on Friday reverberated with national songs apart from speeches and performances as it hosted the central event to mark the 73rd Independence Day.
Hazara Division Commissioner Riaz Mahsud hoisted the national flag at the auditorium to kick off the celebrations.
Addressing the gathering, the commissioner said that although the country has faced numerous challenges and tragedies such as terrorism, militancy, natural calamities and other catastrophes since its inception, the nation has battled these challenges with their bravery, courage along with national unity and harmony.
With the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) being built in the region, he said, the youth must equip themselves with the weapons of education, skills and a sense of social responsibility to lead the country into a new era of progress and prosperity.
Regarding the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), he said that the difficult preventive measures adopted by the government had helped keep the number of cases in check.
Independence Day celebrated with jubilation across Pakistan
However, he warned that the pandemic cannot be fully overcome until an effective cure of the disease is invented in the shape of a vaccine.
Therefore, he urged the public to continue to observe standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed by the government as part of the preventive measures.
RPO Qazi Jamilur Rahman said that the onus was on the youth for helping build a better, peaceful and safe future of the country.
While terrorism and militancy have been nearly rooted out, Rahman said that there still are anti-state groups and organizations which can mislead the young.
Therefore, he said that the youth must be careful around such elements.
People gear up to celebrate Independence Day
In this regard, the RPO said that police in the region have launched a special drive to free the division from the clutches of drugs and narcotics.
Students and other young folks should not only save themselves from narcotics but also help police and other departments in saving others from this menace, he urged.
Later, children from government schools and special education institutions presented national songs and performed tableaus on Pakistan attaining independence from British India.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2020.
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