Independence Day celebrations begin across country

By
AFP
|
Independence Day celebrations begin across country
ISLAMABAD: The 30-day celebrations to celebrate 68th Independence Day commenced on Friday across the country with prayer leaders in mosques highlighting the historic struggle of forefathers for a separate homeland and sacrifices rendered by martyrs for the purpose.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had formed a committee led by Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique and Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Inter Provincial Coordination Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Jam Kamal Khan and Special Assistant to the PM Irfan Siddiqui as its members for finalizing the Independence Day celebrations.

The Railways Minister in a press conference last month had already unveiled the government’s plan to celebrate the Independence Day in a befitting manner.

The government for this purpose has planned to hold a range of ceremonies. The assortment of ceremonies which began on Friday will continue during the entire month of August and all the Pakistanis will raise national flag on their homes and vehicles.

During the night of August 13 there will be a march past and fly past in front of the Parliament House. August 14 will dawn with a 21 gun salute and special prayers for the country.

A national flag hoisting ceremony will be held either at the Aiwan-i-Sadr or Convention Centre.

Azadi walks have also been planned in different cities on the Independence Day. Besides musical bands will be playing national tunes in different parks across the country.

Similar ceremonies and events will also be held abroad in Pakistan diplomatic missions.

According to the government, all parliamentarians will be asked to visit graves of martyrs in their respective areas and lay wreaths, offer prayers and meet their families to express solidarity.

Special programmes will be also held for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) to express solidarity with them.

The Federal Government has informed chief ministers, chief secretaries, Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan and Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) to issue special instructions to impressively celebrate Independence Day events and express solidarity with the armed forces and IDPs.

Pakistan Railways will run a special Azadi Train (Independence Train) which will begin its journey from Peshawar on August 11 and after covering a distance of 4,000 kilometers reach Karachi on September 11.

Two compartments of the train will be allocated to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) for highlighting Freedom Movement and sacrifices of the armed forces.

One compartment will be allocated to Pakistan Railways to highlight Pakistan’s history while another one will be allocated to the Ministry of Information.

Six floats at the train will represent the culture of all the four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.

Governors of all the four provinces and foreign diplomats will also visit the train.

Sports competitions including wrestling, cricket and kabbadi will be held at the district and tehsil levels in connection with the Day while a national Mushaira debate contests and a national conference on Quaid-e-Azam’s concept of Pakistan will also be held.

A separate youth conference, coordinated by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, will also be held.

In addition there will be national song contests across schools, colleges and universities.

The government has sought the help of civil society non-governmental organizations, Bars, professional organizations and religious leaders for maximum participation in the celebrations. (APP)