Call for unity amid challenges

The celebrations of Independence Day on Saturday began with traditional zeal and fervour across the city with the change of guard ceremony at the Mazaar-i-Quaid, the ceremonial artillery salute and special prayers in the mosques for the progress, prosperity and solidarity of the country.

A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Navy in their shining white uniform took assumed the guard ceremonial guards' duty at the mausoleum of founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Commandant Pakistan Naval Academy Commodore Sohail Ahmed Azmi inspected the guards. Lt Commander Fahad Saleem led the parade to offer salute to the Quaid-i-Azam. Sindh Governor Imran Ismail along with Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah laid wreath and offered fateha.

Talking to the media, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail said it has been 74 years since the independence of Pakistan and in these years the country has faced tough times but continued to make progress.

"The nation is again facing challenges, particularly the fast-deteriorating situation in the neighboring Afghanistan, which will have a spillover impact on Pakistan and we will have to stand in the face of it as one nation," Ismail said.

Regarding a question about the federal employees' residences, he said the issue of Pakistan Quarters is going to get resolved and the federal government has released Rs35 billion in funds for cleaning of three nullahs.

He said he has talked at length with the Sindh Chief Minister over the recent attack on SAPM Arbab Ghulam Rahim. He said delivery of the busses of the Green Line Bus Project got delayed twice, however, if the situation remained in control, the busses will arrive the next month.

Call for unity

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said there was need for the nation to remain united as the country was facing challenges on both the western and eastern borders. He said the nation must not forget its Kashmiri brethren on this occasion as unarmed Kashmiris were braving the Indian aggression. He said the Government of Sindh and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had a good working relationship in the province and Karachi Transformation Project was a Rs1,100 billion joint venture which was under way.

Rangers Sindh DG Iftikhar Hassan Chaudhry, Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab and delegations of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and the PTI visited the mausoleum.

MQM-Pakistan Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui along with the members of the Rabita Committee laid a wreath at Mazar-i-Quaid on the morning of August 14. Talking to the media, Siddiqui said MQM-P is striving for the Pakistan of Muhammad Ali Jinnah where everyone has equal rights and the parliament represents people rather than the ruling families.

Flag hoisting ceremonies

Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Khan Durrani while talking to the media after national flag hoisting ceremony at Sindh Assembly Building said: "We are proud that Sindh Assembly passed the resolution in favour of a separate homeland for the Muslims of Sub-continent and this honor is so unique that no other Assembly can match us.”

Meanwhile, Independence Day was celebrated with traditional fervor and enthusiasm in Sui Southern Gas Company. Deputy Managing Director Mohammad Amin Rajput hoisted the national flag and joined the senior management, other executives and staff in singing in unison, Pakistan's national anthem.

To revive the spirit of freedom and to celebrate Independence Day a leading pharmaceutical company helped turn the iconic monument of Frere Hall into a beacon of emerald green on the eve of August 14.

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) supported the initiative of Ferozsons Laboratories Limited. KMC Administrator Murtaza Wahab said: "Let us on this day renew our pledge to build the Quaid's promise of a democratic, inclusive and tolerant Pakistan.”

Ferozsons Laboratories Limited CEO Osman Khalid Waheed said: "The 14th of August reminds us of the struggle of our forefathers for securing a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Sub-Continent where they could fashion their lives according to their religious, cultural, and social values."

Separately, The Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions Sindh, Karachi marked the Independence Day with the Everest Grammar School, Gulistan-e-Jauhar. Director General Dr Mansoob Hussain Siddiqui, Registrar Rafia Javed and officers of the directorate, students, teachers and staff of Everest School participated in the programme.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2021.