Green fever: Capital prepares to celebrate Independence Day

Fireworks at Parade Avenue on Thursday night to mark official commemoration.

ISLAMABAD: Several events and programmes have been prepared to celebrate the country’s 69th Independence Day in the federal capital.

August 14 will be marked by a flag-hoisting ceremony at Jinnah Convention Centre early morning where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to be the chief guest, said Capital Development Authority (CDA) spokesman Ramzan Sajid.

CDA’s Directorate of Municipal Administration has also arranged fireworks show at the Parade Ground along with a musical event on August 13 and 14, he said. Entry for the general public in the Parade Ground will be free-of-cost to ensure maximum participation in the celebrations, he added.

Sajid claimed that the authority’s environment directorate has removed shrubs, while the sanitation directorate has also arranged proper sanitation system in the area.

A parking plan has also been made to ensure minimal traffic congestion around Parade Ground on Friday, he added. As with Eid and other major holidays, the capital witnesses an enormous rush of tourists and locals both, which almost always results in traffic jams and congestion on roads.

Moreover, CDA’s Sports and Culture Directorate has planned different activities to celebrate Independence Day and the activities will continue till August 23. In this connection, a musical evening with famous singer Munni Begum has also been planned for August 23.

A special ‘tourist train’ will also be operated to take people from Rose and Jasmine Garden to the Natural History Museum on August 14.

PNCA’s programmes

The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) will begin celebrating Independence Day from Wednesday (today).

Several events have been arranged by the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage to celebrate the day in a befitting manner.

Celebrations will start with a cultural show and musical evening at PNCA auditorium, featuring performances of renowned singers, national and folk songs and regional dances by the National Performing Arts Group.

On August 13, a special programme for children will highlight the history of the freedom movement through speeches, songs and tableaus. A special play ‘Jashan-e-Azadi’ will also be presented.

A magic and puppet show will also be presented on the same day to entertain children.

The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage Lok Virsa will also hold cultural programmes on August 13 and 15. A photographic exhibition titled “Our Quaid, Our Pakistan” will be organised while the museum of Lok Virsa will offer a discounted entry fee. A children’s painting competition and youth artisans’ work will also be part of the celebrations while the Mandwa Film Club of Lok Virsa will screen the movie Kartar Singh on August 13 and 15.

AIOU joins the party

Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will celebrate Independence Day at the Begum Nusrat Bhutto Auditorium with traditional zeal and fervour, said a press release issued on Tuesday.

The functions will begin with a flag-hoisting ceremony at 8:30am.

Children from the university colony and staff will participate in the celebrations, in which students will sing patriotic songs. A speech contest would also be held in addition to a tableau in collaboration with Faqir Hussain and his group, stated AIOU’s Independence Day programmes coordinator Dr Badshah Sardar.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2015.