The Defence Day of Pakistan was celebrated throughout Sialkot district with great enthusiasm and national spirit on Monday. The daylong programmes started with special prayers for the unity, solidarity and prosperity of the country and for the early liberation of the Indian occupied Kashmir in all mosques of the district.
The Hilal-e-Istiqlal flag ceremony was held under the auspices of Sialkot Tehsil Municipal Administration at Jinnah Hall.
Speaking on the occasion, provincial Labour and Human Resources Minister Syed Akhtar Hussain Rizvi paid rich tributes to Pakistan armed forces and people of Sialkot on courage they demonstrated during the September 1965 war and consequently, Sialkot was awarded the Hilal-e-Istiqlal.
The minister said: The biggest tank battle after the World War-11 was fought at Chawinda and our armed forces defeated the five times bigger enemy forces at this sector."
"At this juncture," he said, "we needed complete unity among the ranks for smashing the anti-state elements as well as for the all-round development of the country."
Syed Akhtar Rizvi said: "In order to overcome the problems and for the better future, the people should demonstrate the same spirit and unity for defeating evil forces and enemies of the country."
Speaking on the occasion, president Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Tahir Majid Kaput paid rich tributes to the people of Sialkot and armed forces for rendering laudable services for defending their motherland during the September war in 1965.
Station Commander Sialkot, Sialkot District Nazim Mian Naeem Javed, DPO Sialkot, President Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajran, DCO Sialkot and many others also spoke on the occasion.