Nation celebrates as Pakistan turns 65

LAHORE: The nation celebrates Independence Day with national zeal and fervour as Pakistan turns 65 today.

Besides government departments, social, literary, business, educational and political organizations have also finalised impressive programmes including seminars, games and other activities in the provincial capital to highlight the importance of the day.

The most enthusiastic community is children who are busy collecting stickers, badges and also beautifying their bicycles and books with special stickers, badges inscribed with messages regarding Independence Day.

Ceremonies of national flag hoisting in different institutions will be a special feature of the day.

The main function of Independence Day celebrations will be held in the Hazoori Bagh where Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif would hoist the national flag at Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort and also lay a floral wreath and offered 'Dua' at the mausoleum of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the poet of the East.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan will unfurl the Pakistan flag at the Assembly Secretariat and later addresses a ceremony.

Punjab University Vice Chancellor, Dr Mujahid Kamran will hoist the flag on New Campus while the Government College University VC Dr Khaliqur Rehman would lead a programme on the GCU campus.

Nazria-e-Pakistan Trust (NPT), Wapda, Pakistan Railways and other departments will also arrange flag hoisting ceremonies where special 'Dua' for peace, security, solidarity and prosperity of Pakistan would be offered.

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and other local trade bodies have decided to decorate the chamber's building, market, plazas and main bazaars with flags, banners, colourful bunting and lights.

Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) will celebrate Independence Day by holding flag hoisting and lowering ceremonies at the joint check-post at Wagha while DG Rangers (Punjab) Major General Mian Muhammad Hilal Hussian will be the chief guest at the ceremonies.

Special programmes for children will be arranged at Alhamra Hall No-II where Alhamra Arts Council Chairman Atta-ul-Haq Qasmi would be the chief guest. The programmes include a grand musical show and the drama "Ainak Wala Jin".

The Punjab Cycling Association is organizing Jashan-e-Azadi Road Cycle Race from Lahore to Kasur under the auspices of the Punjab Olympic Association on August 14.

The Lahore Photo Journalists Association in collaboration with Punjab Information, Youth and Culture Department is also holding a 'Photo Festival' at Racecourse Park. Pictures, portraits, landscapes, people and monuments depicting culture and daily life of Pakistanis will be showcased at the expo.

Punjab Auqaf Department has already announced a four-day programme for Independence Day and at the night of August 14, a Mehfil-e-Milad will be held at Data Darbar.

Punjab Social Welfare Department DG Malik Muhammad Aslam will hoist the national flag in a ceremony to be held at Social Welfare Training Institute, Township at 10am.

The SOS (Save Our Souls) Village, a shelter home for orphans, is organizing an annual charity show to collect funds for the children at SOS Centre Ferozpur Road here on Independence Day.

Newspapers will publish special feature to highlight the importance of the day while TV channels and radio would broadcast special documentaries on Pakistan, national songs and other entertainment programmes.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011