Pakistan Day celebrated with traditional zeal, fervour

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Day was celebrated throughout the country on March 23 (Sunday) with traditional fervour to commemorate the Lahore Resolution of 1940. During the day, special prayers were held for security and prosperity of the country at all places of worship.

The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in Rawalpindi and 21-gun salutes at all the provincial capitals. President Mamnoon Hussain along with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended a ceremony at the president house to mark the day. The two dignitaries hoisted the national flag at the presidency followed by national anthem and patriotic songs sung by children. Senate Chairman Nayyer Hussain Bukhari, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, members of the federal cabinet, chiefs of armed forces and a large number of diplomats were present at the event.

A fleet of 12 fighter jets and nine helicopters from the Pakistan Air Force led by Wing Commander Ronald Afzal performed an eye catching and fantastic fly-past over the president house. Later an investiture ceremony was held at the presidency, in which President Mamnoon Hussain conferred awards on prominent personalities from various walks of life. Investiture ceremonies were also held in the provinces, while governors and chief ministers held receptions at the provincial capitals.

Pakistan’s flag was hoisted atop principal public and private buildings across the country. Flags were also hoisted on all Pakistani missions abroad during ceremonies attended by members of the Pakistani community. Messages of the president and prime minister to the nation were read out on the occasion.

Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah along with provincial ministers and legislators laid wreaths at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah to pay homage to the Founder of the Nation.Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other leaders felicitated the government and the people of Pakistan.

Television and radio stations broadcast special programmes and newspapers took out special supplements to highlight significance of the day. Seminars, poetry recitation events, exhibitions of photographs and documents relating to the Pakistan Movement, Qirat contests, debates and essay competitions were held in cities and towns.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Day was celebrated on Sunday across Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) with great enthusiasm traditional fervour and devotion.The day dawned with special prayers at Fajr in the mosques on both sides of LoC. The people from across LoC prayed for the stability security and swift progress of Pakistan. In AJK people celebrated the day in a befitting manner. Pakistan and AJK flags were hoisted atop small and major private and public buildings. Various private, social, political and public representative organizations had arranged special programmes to celebrate the day.

All the three Azad Jammu Kashmir radio stations of Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Tararkheil aired special programmes highlighting the importance of the historic day of March 23 1940 when Muslims of the subcontinent unanimously decided to bring about separate homeland by passing the historic Pakistan Resolution.