اردو
  • Nation celebrates Independence Day with great zeal, traditional fervour

    The President will address the nation on the occasion File Photo The President will address the nation on the occasion

    The nation is celebrating Independence Day today with a renewed pledge to safeguard the motherland against any threat and make it a true Islamic welfare state as envisioned by founding father Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

    The day dawned with thirty-one gun salute in the federal and twenty-one gun salute at the provincial capitals.

    Special prayers were 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.

    The main event of the day is a flag hoisting ceremony at the Convention Centre Islamabad where President Mamnoon Hussain will be the chief guest. He will address the nation on the occasion.

    President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang will jointly unfurl the national flag.

    Vice-Premier of the State Council of People's Republic of China Wang Yang who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan will also address the ceremony.

    Flag hoisting ceremonies are also taking place at provincial capitals, district headquarters and important national institutions.

    Meanwhile, all the major public and private buildings, roads and avenues have been decorated with illuminations, national flags, portraits of the national leaders, banners and buntings to give a festive look.

    Azadi Train formally also started its journey from Islamabad. The train displaying different aspects of Pakistan movement as well as culture and traditions of the country will travel all the provinces. The general public can visit the train without any ticket.

    Meanwhile, a simple but graceful change of guards ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Iqbal in Lahore on Monday morning.

    A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army took charge as guards from Punjab Rangers.