The nation will celebrate Pakistan Day on Thursday with a pledge to make the country strong, progressive and prosperous Islamic welfare state. The day will dawn with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salute in the provincial capitals.
After Fajr, special prayers will be offered for the country's progress, strength and solidarity. Pakistani flag will be hoisted on the principal, public, private buildings across the country and all Pakistani missions abroad. The day is a public holiday, and people from all walks of life will take part in different programmes to mark the occasion befittingly.
Seminars and functions will be organised to pay homage to the Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and poet philosopher Allama Iqbal. Speakers will highlight sacrifices rendered by the people for the creation of a separate homeland for Muslims.
President General Pervez Musharraf will confer awards on outstanding civil and military personalities in recognition of their meritorious services at an investiture ceremony.
Newspapers will bring out supplements to underscore the significance of the day and the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam, under whose leadership Muslims passed Pakistan Resolution in Lahore on March 23, 1940, a momentous milestone in the history of the Pakistan Movement. The public and private radio and TV channels will also air special programmes.
Boy scouts, girl guides and students will hold rallies. In addition, special exhibitions of photographs will be held, while documentaries relating to the Pakistan Movement will be screened. Qirat contests, debates, essay competitions are also scheduled and the winners will be awarded prizes.
In Lahore, the day will be observed with traditional zeal and fervour and a resolve to make the country a strong, progressive, enlightened and moderate Muslim state. A large number of people from all walks of life will visit the Mausoleum of great philosopher Allama Iqbal.
The main event in Lahore is "Muslim League Workers Convention" being held at Minar-e-Pakistan under the auspices of Pakistan Muslim League (PML).
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would be the chief guest at the convention in which party workers from across the country would participate. Apart from the League workers, party leaders from across Pakistan would also participate in the convention.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Wednesday said that the people would give a practical display of their devotion to the founders of Pakistan and commitment to the national ideology through massive participation in the PML centenary convention.
He said that on this historic occasion, the PML workers, who are Quaid-e-Azam's soldiers, would renew their pledge to redouble their efforts for elimination of poverty and ignorance from the society.
He said that this year Pakistan Day would prove to be a milestone in the process of stability and prosperity of the country. This historic convention would revive the memories of supreme sacrifices of Muslim League workers during the Pakistan Movement, besides apprising younger generation of the heavy odds and hardships faced during the struggle for the creation of Pakistan. The convention would also create public awareness about the epic struggle for independence under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he added.