KARACHI: Like other parts of the country, the 73rd Independence Day of Pakistan was celebrated in Karachi with national zest and enthusiasm. The day dawned with 21-gun salute while special prayers were offered in all mosques for the solidarity, prosperity and progress of the country. The nation denounced the unending atrocities of Modi regime against Muslims of the Indian Occupied Kashmir.
A change of guard ceremony, the main event of the day, took place at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the father of the nation during which a smartly turned out contingent of cadets of Pakistan Navy assumed honorary guard duties with traditional spirit and customary.
Commandant Pakistan Naval Academy Commodore Mushtaq Ahmed was the chief guest of the ceremony who laid a floral wreath on behalf of the naval staff chief, officers and men of Pakistan Navy, offered Fateha and recorded his impressions in the visitors' book and paid rich tribute to Quaid-e-Azam.
The Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah along with his cabinet members, Governor Imran Ismail, Mayor Wasim Akhtar paid visit to the Quaid-e-Azam's mausoleum, laid floral wreath and offered Fateha. Flag hoisting, and cake cutting ceremonies were held at public and private offices across the city and special programmes were scheduled to observe the day.
Pakistani flag was hoisted on the roofs of different public and private buildings across the country. Many buildings were decorated with colourful lights. People witnessed grand firework display at different city neighborhoods at the midnight as the citizens raising patriotic slogans like 'Pakistan Zindabad, Jivey Jivey Pakistan.
Roadside stalls selling flags, badges, stickers, and clothes for adults and children alike were set up elsewhere in the city. People of all ages particularly the jubilant youth wearing colourful dresses thronged to parks, Zoo, Seaview, and various recreational facilities to mark the day.
Traffic police officials were also seen performing duties wearing Pakistani flag colour badges, masks. The joy of freedom was being felt in the atmosphere of the city with every individual was expressing his love for the country. Songs were being sung in the streets with great enthusiasm.
FPCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar hoisted the national flag at the Independence Day ceremony at Federation House here. FPCCI Vice Presidents Khurram Ijaz, Sheikh Sultan Rehman, Zakaria Usman, and other business leaders were also present. Pakistan Railways Karachi also zealously celebrated the independence anniversary of the motherland. A gathering was arranged at the Divisional Superintendent Office here that was attended by all the officers and staff. The DS Karachi Arshad Salam Khattak was the chief guest.
DS hoisted the national flag and addressed the gathering. He said that the ecstasy on the Independence Day could not be explained in words. Traditional folk performance and milli naghmas had been observed on the occasion. The DS was quite impressed from stage performance of the children, who are brought up in schools of Pakistan Railways, and distributed cash prizes to them. A cake cutting ceremony was also witnessed on this historic day.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020