The nation on Saturday celebrated the 146th birthday of the Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah with renewed commitment to work hard for the progress and prosperity of the country.
The day saw national flag being hoisted at all public and private buildings across the country.
Recitation of Holy Quran, a change of guards ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi, while a number of events, including seminars, debates and exhibitions, were also held both at official and civil society levels to highlight life, achievements and different aspects of Jinnah's personality.
Special programmes, discussions, interviews and reports to highlight different phases of the independence struggle and leadership role of the Quaid-e-Azam were also broadcasted.
President Dr Arif Alvi, in his message to the nation, urged countrymen to follow his great guiding principles to make Pakistan a great nation.
The president said that due to his tireless efforts, capabilities, determination, and extraordinary character, Jinnah materialised his dream of the creation of Pakistan.
He said that in order to cope with the prevailing challenges, the nation should follow Quaid’s golden principles of “unity, faith and discipline”.
Moreover, he also called for discipline, brotherhood, and dedication for the country’s prosperity which also required the contribution of all segments, ethnicities, including minorities.
The president also urged the nation to make a pledge for making Pakistan a great and a strong country.
In his message, Prime Minister Imran Khan emphasised upon the youth to adopt the Quaid’s attributes of honesty, hard work, perseverance and dedication.
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"We as a nation need to adopt these attributes to realise Quaid’s vision of a developed, progressive and tolerant Pakistan," the PM said. "Muhammad Ali Jinnah realised the importance of a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent where all citizens could enjoy the freedom of faith, occupation and equal opportunities."
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar said that the Quaid's vision of a peaceful and progressive Pakistan and his principles of unity, faith and discipline are imperative for our success as a nation.
PAF releases tributary documentary
The air force also released a short documentary video to pay tribute to the country’s founder.
The documentary highlights the fact that Quaid-e-Azam illuminated the oppressed Muslims of the subcontinent with a ray of hope and united them as one nation to achieve a separate and independent homeland for them, said a PAF news release.
Armed Forces pay tribute to Father of the Nation; Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on his 145th Birth Anniversary. Quaid’s vision of a peaceful & progressive Pakistan following principles of Unity, Faith & Discipline is imperative for our success as a nation. pic.twitter.com/L8B351YjVo
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) December 25, 2021
“It is because of Quaid’s tireless efforts that we are breathing in a free state today,” it said.
Opposition leaders, including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, also paid tribute to the country’s founder.
"Attempts were made by the dictatorial forces and their cronies to dent the ideology of the Founder of the Nation and drift the country from his vision but the democratic forces led by PPP have always foiled their designs through monumental struggles,” Bilawal said.
"Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was the tallest personality among his contemporaries and he dreamt an egalitarian country for the Muslims in the sub-continent to live in peaceful cohesion," he added.
Shehbaz said that hard work must become the governing principle of Pakistanis’ lives and only Jinnah’s motto could enable Pakistan to move forward.
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