Rawalpindi plans grand Independence Day festivities

Spirit of unity and pride to mark 78th Independence Day in twin cities

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RAWALPINDI:

Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day will be celebrated across Rawalpindi with great enthusiasm, patriotic spirit, and ceremonial grandeur, the district administration formally announced on Tuesday.

The central celebration will be held at Government Viqar-un-Nisa Girls College at 9 am, where Civil Defence volunteers will present a march-past and guard of honour. The commissioner and deputy commissioner will perform the flag-hoisting ceremony, followed by march-pasts by Girl Guides and Boy Scouts.

Across the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, prominent landmarks — including Parliament House, Aiwan-e-Sadr, the Supreme Court, Secretariat buildings, bazaars, railway stations, Adiala Jail, hospitals, parks, and other public venues — will be adorned with vibrant buntings, decorative lighting, national flags, and portraits of national heroes.

Official buildings, private residences, vehicles, and even motorcycles will proudly display the Pakistani flag, contributing to a citywide atmosphere of national pride.

Cultural floats showcasing the diverse traditions of Punjab, Sindh, Potohar, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) will feature prominently in Independence Day parades and rallies, highlighting the country’s rich cultural mosaic.

At the Rawalpindi Arts Council, exhibitions will be held featuring rare photographs from the Pakistan Movement and portraits of key national figures. The festivities will also include thematic tableaux, quiz contests, speech competitions, a sports gala, and a Sufi night at Iqbal Park, which will also host a special Independence Day exhibition.

Flag-raising ceremonies will take place at the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench, district courts, District Bar Association, universities, and the Education Board. From August 1 to August 14, government officials and employees will wear Independence Day badges, and national flags will be prominently hoisted on rooftops across the city.

In celebration of the occasion, sweets will be distributed at hospitals and Adiala Jail, and sentence remissions will be granted to eligible inmates. Awards will be presented to buildings with the most exceptional decorations.

Citywide decorations will commence from August 1, marking the onset of celebrations. A high-level planning meeting, chaired by DC Hassan Waqar Cheema, was held to review and finalise preparations.

During the session, a comprehensive programme of events was officially approved, underscoring the administration’s commitment to celebrating Independence Day with unprecedented zeal, unity, and national pride.