The 68th Independence Day was celebrated on Thursday with enthusiasm and renewed pledge to safeguard the country against any threat and work for nation building as per vision of the founding father Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The day started with 31-gun salute in federal Capital and 21-gun salute in provincial capitals.
The main flag hoisting ceremony was held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad where President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif hoisted the national flag. The ceremony was attended by the cabinet members, elected representatives, services chiefs and other senior civil and military officials.
Flag hoisting ceremonies were also held at the provincial capitals, district headquarters and other important national institutions. Various seminars, conferences, lectures, debates, speech contests, exhibitions, quiz competitions, stage dramas and Mushairas were arranged by different organisations to mark Independence Day.
All the major public and private buildings, roads and avenues had been decorated with illuminations, national flags, portraits' of the national leaders, banners and buntings. An impressive change of guard ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Quaid-e Azam where a smart contingent of Pakistan Navy took charge. A simple but graceful ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Iqbal in which jawans of Pak Army took charge from Punjab Rangers.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited Mazar-e-Iqbal in Lahore and offered Fateha. A flag hoisting ceremony was also held at Emergency Services Academy. The Director General, Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122), Dr Rizwan Naseer, Director (Admin) Brigadier Dr Arshad Zia (Retd), Deputy Director (P&D) Faheem Ahmed Qureshi, Deputy Director (HR) Dr Fooad Shahzad Mirza, Deputy Director Finance Naeem Mukhtar, Assistant Directors, rescue instructors and other rescue officers participated in the ceremony. Earlier, DG Rescue Punjab hoisted the flag at Emergency Services Academy/ Rescue 1122 Headquarters.
Moreover, the staff and students of University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore celebrated the 68th Independence Day with national zeal and enthusiasm. The day was marked by a flag hoisting ceremony held at the campus. UHS Vice Chancellor Major General Professor Muhammad Aslam (Retd) hoisted the national flag.
Speaking on the occasion, UHS VC said there is a need to revive the true spirit of Pakistan Movement. He further said that every person must perform his duty with devotion and dedication which is the only way of survival of any country as a respectable entity among the comity of nations. On this occasion, Muhammad Ulfat Rasool, Chairman Educate the Nation Welfare Association (ENWA) which is an NGO for free education for special and poor children, and UHS Microbiology Department's Head Professor Abdul Hannan gave brief lectures on Pakistan Movement. A walk was also organised in connection with the Independence Day celebrations which was led by UHS Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Junaid S Khan.