Youths’ novel way to celebrate independence

Citizens paint ancient walls in colours of national flag to express love for country

RAWALPINDI:

In a unique expression of love and affection for Pakistan, the youths of the Rawalpindi Cantonment have painted the ancient walls built before the 1947 Partition of the Indian subcontinent in the colours of the national flag to celebrate the country’s independence.

With Independence Day around the corner, even the sweltering heat has failed to deter the children and adults from painting high walls with great enthusiasm in white and green –the colours of the national flag.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Muhammad Asif, a resident of Chaudhry Karam Elahi, who was busy preparing for Independence Day, said: “We wanted to celebrate Independence Day 2023 in a unique way.”

He said he and his friend would put up flags on the roofs of their houses and streets and decorate them with buntings but this year they vowed to celebrate Independence Day in a new and unique way.

“That is why all the friends collected donations together and painted the ancient high walls along the Pakistan Railway tracks in the colours of the green flag,” he explained.

“Every year, these walls look ugly because they are not painted, but now we are painting big flags on all the walls. We are using weather shield paint which will not get damaged even by the rain,” he said.

Another citizen, Muhammad Abbas, who was also busy painting the Pakistani flag on the wall, said he came from Dubai to celebrate Pakistan’s independence this year.

“The youth of our neighbourhood celebrate independence every year in a grand manner with which many good memories are associated,” he said.

“There are huge walls owned by Pakistan Railways in our area. These were established by the British before the Partition of India so that the railway system could run smoothly,” he said while delving into the details of history.

“We are painting the Pakistani flag on these walls,” he said and added that they were using large ladders to paint these high walls. “The weather of Rawalpindi is extremely hot and humid, but despite this, all my friends are painting huge Pakistani flags with great effort.”

Abbas went on to say that after the green and white colour, they will seek the help of expert artists to paint the crescent and star in the Pakistani flag and will also write patriotic phrases on top of each flag.

On the other hand, citizens are extremely impressed by the unique style of celebrating the independence of the youth of Chaudhry Karam Elahi.

Sources said families and children gather around these walls day and night to see the Pakistani flag being painted on the walls.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2023..