Independence Day celebrations ensue across country

Pakistan is celebrating its 77th Independence Day with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervour across the nation today. A series of events, including gun salutes, flag hoisting ceremonies, and special prayers, were organised to honour the historic occasion and commemorate the sacrifices of the nation’s founders.

The day commenced with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital, Islamabad. All four provincial capitals—Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta—echoed the spirit of the day with 21-gun salutes each. Special prayers were offered after the Fajr prayer, seeking blessings for the country’s development, unity, peace, and security.

Extensive security, traffic measures in place for Independence Day

The Foreign Office building in Islamabad was illuminated with the vibrant colours of the national flag, symbolising the country’s pride and resilience. Earlier, the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul hosted an Independence Parade, featuring a march by cadets.

In Lahore, the city witnessed the solemn ceremony of the changing of the guards at Mazar-e-Iqbal, with GOC Shoaib Bin Akram, Commanding Officer of the 10 Division, acting as the chief guest. The ceremony saw the soldiers of the Pakistan Army taking over guard duties.

In Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur led the celebrations at the Civil Secretariat. The ceremony began with the unfurling of the national flag by the Chief Minister himself. Dignitaries including the IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, the Chief Secretary, and other high officials participated in the event. A grand flag-hoisting ceremony was also held at the Governor House in Peshawar, where Governor Faisal Karim Kundi unfurled the flag. The event saw participation from the consuls general of the United States, Iran, and Afghanistan.

In Multan, the main event was marked by the hoisting of the green crescent flag at exactly 8 o’clock in the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, accompanied by the sound of a siren. The city was adorned with a spring of flags, symbolising the unity and strength of the nation.

The Municipal Committee lawn in Bahawalnagar was the venue for the main flag hoisting ceremony, which was attended by local dignitaries and citizens alike.

Sukkur celebrated the day with a ceremony held on the Walk Train, where Sindh Government Spokesperson Arslan Islam Sheikh was the special guest. The city also witnessed the hoisting of Pakistan’s second-highest national flag, adding to the grandeur of the occasion.

Pakistan Independence Day: Celebrations and reflections

In Dera Bugti, the FC Headquarter Sui hosted a flag hoisting ceremony attended by high civil and military officials, tribal elders, and members of civil society.

The celebrations in Pishin included a well-armoured squad of police officers saluting the national flag during the main ceremony.

Similar celebrations continue across all big and small cities in the country.