Patriotic pride: Pakistan Day celebrated zealously across K-P, FATA

Defence exhibition held at Army Stadium with 21 canon salute.

KHAR/ PESHAWAR/ DI KHAN: A defence exhibition was held in Army Stadium Peshawar on Sunday to mark Pakistan Day. The event was inaugurated by corps commander Lieutenant General Khalid Rabbani.

The day started with a salute of 21 canons, after which a large number of people visited the exhibition and took a keen interest in the defence equipment displayed, including tanks, armoured personnel carriers, light and heavy arms, ammunition and field artillery.

An air show, including combat helicopters, was also part of the exhibition and was enthusiastically appreciated by the public. Army commandos and paratroopers enthralled the audience with their freefall jumps from an altitude of 10,000 feet.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the spokesperson of Inter-Services Public Relations Colonel Nadeem said the exhibition displayed all types of armoured vehicles in use with the Pakistan Army, including tanks, howitzers, anti-aircraft guns, automatic rifles, sniper rifles, and light, medium and heavy machineguns.

Youth Centre celebrates

Jawan Markaz held an event at Bagh-e-Naran on Sunday to celebrate Pakistan Day and hoist the national flag.

Addressing the gathering, the chief guest at the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Zaheerul Islam directed the youth to work hard and play an active role in the development of the country.

He appreciated the centre for holding such a gathering and encouraged the youth to carry on with more spirit. Islam added that the government will help the centre to organise sports activities and Independence Day celebrations.

A number of speakers highlighted the importance of Pakistan Day and termed the youth as the future of the nation. Other speakers, including the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Youth Governor and adviser to the youth centre, Ahsan Hamid Durrani, narrated excerpts from the speeches of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Durrani spoke about the life of the founder and his messages to the youth.

Ceremonies in tribal areas

The 74th Pakistan Day was also celebrated in South Waziristan. In Wana, Angoor Adda, Shakai and others parts of the agency, the Pakistani flag was hoisted in schools, events were staged and students presented dramas and speeches in relation to the day.

At Musa Nika Public School and College, the Assistant Political Agent (APA) of Wana subdivision Shahid Ali was the chief guest at the ceremony arranged by the administration. Students presented an athletics show followed by speeches and dramas, after which the APA distributed cash prizes among those who performed well on stage.

“There is no dearth of talent in the youth of Waziristan,” said Ali while addressing the audience, “All they need is proper education and training.”

Despite the continuing rain in the region, local tribesmen, students and people from different walks of life were seen to be actively celebrating the day.

Meanwhile, a flag hoisting ceremony was also held in Khar, Bajaur Agency and Ghallanai, Mohmand Agency in the offices of Frontier Corps and the political administration, with tribal elders also present.

In Jamrud, however, no event was held to celebrate Pakistan Day. Assistant Political Agent Jahangir Azam said they had arranged an event but it was cancelled due to rain in the area.  (with additional input by our correspondents across Fata)

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2014.