By News Desk
ISLAMABAD: The nation celebrated the diamond jubilee of its independence after completion of 75 years since Independence Day, with traditional zeal and fervour across Pakistan on Sunday.
The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salute in the provincial headquarters.
Special prayers were offered in mosques at dawn for peace, solidarity and prosperity of the country. The main feature of the celebrations was the national flag-hoisting ceremony in Islamabad. Similar flag-hoisting ceremonies were held at provincial, divisional and district headquarter levels throughout the country.
In his message on the occasion, President Dr Arif Alvi urged the nation to remain steadfast and work wholeheartedly for the development, progress and prosperity of the country.
“We need to remain united to overcome financial, economic and security challenges faced by the country. Let us pledge that we will remain steadfast to render any sacrifice for the dignity and self-respect of our people and greatness and glory of our beloved homeland,” the President said.
He stressed the nation that they should not forget their oppressed brothers and sisters of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In his message on the Independence Day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said nothing was more dangerous for a nation than internal division, disruption and chaos since such negative forces undermine the solidarity and integrity of a country and rob societies of their national purpose.
“Independence Day is a watershed moment in our nation’s history,” he added. In a bid to put the country on the trajectory of progress and bring economic stability, PM Sharif stressed the need for holding a national dialogue and developing a consensus on the “charter of economy” among all stakeholders.
Addressing a national flag-hoisting and unveiling of re-recording ceremony of the national anthem at the Jinnah Convention Centre, the Prime Minister said: “Like our forefathers, on this 75th Independence Day, we vow to transform Pakistan into an economic power.
“If we can become a nuclear power, we can also become an economic power but for it we have to strive day and night and prove to the world that we are no less than anyone in the world.”
The ceremony was attended by federal ministers, parliamentarians, senior military and law enforcement agencies leadership and people belonging to all walks of life.
Meanwhile, Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar on Sunday extended felicitations on behalf of the Armed Forces of Pakistan on the diamond jubilee celebrations of Independence Day.
The DG ISPR wrote on his official Twitter handle: “Happy Independence Day/Diamond Jubilee Celebrations to great Pakistani nation from Armed Forces of Pakistan.”
He also mentioned the theme for the diamond jubilee as “Azm-e-Aleshaan-Shad Rahe Pakistan” (the glorious resolve—may Pakistan be prosperous), Pakistan Zindabad!”
Earlier in the morning, the change of guards ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi, wherein the cadets of Pakistan Naval Academy assumed the guards duties.
Radio Pakistan, Pakistan Television and other mainstream media highlighted the services of Pakistan Movement heroes on the day and paid tributes to their extra-ordinary contributions for making Pakistan a reality.
Kashmiris living along both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and across the globe marked the 75th Independence Day of Pakistan with great zeal, zest, fervour and enthusiasm.
Separately, the Diamond Jubilee Convention of Parliamentarians, chaired by Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, passed a unanimous resolution, expressing resolve to strive together to make Quaid-i-Azam’s vision of a federal, parliamentary, democratic and prosperous Pakistan a substantive reality.
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