The nation celebrates Independence Day today (Sunday) with enthusiasm and
commitment to safeguard the country against any
threat and rededication towards nation building as per the vision of the
founding father Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The day will dawn with thirty one gun salute in the federal and twenty one
gun salute at the provincial capitals.
Special prayers will be offered for the prosperity, integrity and solidarity
of the country, unity of the Muslim Ummah and for the success of the long drawn
struggle of the Kashmiris after fajr prayers. It will be a public holiday day
throughout the country.
The main event of the day will be a flag hoisting ceremony at Jinnah
Convention Center in Islamabad, where Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani
will be the chief guest. Sirens will be played at 8.58 am and all moving traffic
on road, rail and sea will come to a halt for one minute. It will be followed by
flag hoisting by the prime minister and playing of the national anthem,
following which the prime minister will address the nation.
Flag hoisting ceremonies would also be held at the provincial capitals and
district headquarters besides other important national institutions.
A host of events including seminars, conferences, lectures, debates, speech
contests, exhibitions, quiz competitions, stage dramas and Mushairas in national
and local languages will be arranged to spread the message of hope, projection
of a prosperous Pakistan and strong condemnation of extremism. These will also
promote the ever lasting message of “Faith, Unity and Discipline” espoused by
the great Quaid.
Meanwhile, all the major public and private buildings, roads and avenues have
been decorated with illuminations, national flags, banners, buntings to give a
festive look.
Radio Pakistan will broadcast a special full day transmission on the
Independence Day tomorrow. The main features of this transmission will be talk
shows, highlighting the importance of the day keeping in view the on going
internal and external challenges facing the country. Special features, children,
women, youth and students’ shows, interviews, impressions of different
personalities besides patriotic songs will be the other highlights of the
transmission. A special play in connection with the Independence Day will be
broadcast at 8.05 pm tomorrow. SANA
