PM felicitates nation on 79th Independence Day, calls for unity to strengthen Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated the nation on the 78th anniversary of Independence, urging political forces to set aside divisions and work together to strengthen Pakistan.

He was addressing the grand ceremony currently underway at Jinnah Sports Complex Islamabad to mark the Independence Day and Mark-e-Haq.

President Asif Ali Zardari is the chief guest of the ceremony.

Top participants

Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, DG-ISPR Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, federal and state ministers and foreign officials are also in attendance.

The premier said, “This is no ordinary day — it is the date on which every chapter of history bears the marks of our martyrs’ blood.”

He described the struggle for Pakistan as not merely a fight for freedom but the triumph of the two-nation theory, paying tribute to Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal and the leaders of the Pakistan Movement.

Appreciation of Marka-e-Haq

PM Sharif lauded the armed forces, particularly what he called “the brave sons who place their lives on the line for the nation”, and praised Field Marshal Asim Munir for devising a strategy against India that was “acknowledged by both friends and foes”.

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He referred to May 10, 2025, as the emergence of “a new nation” and said the “Marka-e-Haq” had proven Pakistan’s resolve to defend the country.

Shehbaz Announcement

PM Shehbaz announced Army Rocket Force Command for the nation to further strengthen the military capability against the arch enemy, India.

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Paying homage to past leaders, the prime minister saluted Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and other scientists for making the country a nuclear power, and praised former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for rejecting pressure and inducements on May 28 to conduct nuclear tests in response to India’s capability.

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“Our nuclear programme is purely defensive,” he said, adding it was aimed at maintaining deterrence against India’s arsenal.

Kashmir issue

The prime minister thanked China, Turkiye, Qatar, Iran and the United States for their support, saying Pakistan would continue to stand by the people of Palestine and Indian-occupied Kashmir until their rights were realised.

Role of COAS in state economy

He expressed gratitude to COAS Munir for finalising the National Security Plan and an economic roadmap, and to the judiciary for facilitating the recovery of over Rs100 billion through speedy decisions in Federal Board of Revenue cases.

On the economic front, PM Sharif said decisive measures taken after 2024 had averted a looming crisis, with the stock exchange hitting record highs and international institutions acknowledging that Pakistan was entering “a new era”.

He stressed, however, that “this is only the beginning” and that “success milestones are yet to be achieved”.

Calling for political reconciliation, the premier said: “Let the world see that while our differences remain, we are united for Pakistan.”

He urged the youth to become the vanguard of national reconstruction and announced the launch of several business programmes to empower them.