The nation on Monday celebrated the 70th Independence Day with national zeal and solemnity across the country. The day began with special prayers in the mosques for unity, solidarity and prosperity of the country. An impressive change of the guards ceremony was held at the mausoleum of Founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. A smartly turned out contingent of the Pakistan Naval Academy assumed the ceremonial guards duty.
President Mamnoon Hussain hoisted the national flag in a dignified ceremony held here to mark the celebrations of 70th Independence Day of Pakistan. The ceremony held at the Jinnah Convention center attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sohail Aman and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President said they were hoisting the national flag to pay tributes to the historic struggle of the leaders of the Independence Movement. He said it was a time to retrospect over the long history of construction, development and stability of Pakistan. Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani and Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq laid floral wreath at the monument of martyrs of democracy in Islamabad as part of the Independence Day celebrations.
Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah attended the flag hoisting ceremony at the Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi in connection with the Independence Day celebrations. A simple but graceful change of Guards ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Iqbal in Lahore, in which Pak Army jawans took over the guards' duty from Punjab Rangers.
A function in connection with the Independence Day was held in Peshawar on Monday morning. Chief Minister Pervez Khattak as the chief guest on the occasion hoisted the national flag. Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Sana Ullah Khan Zehri and Speaker Balochistan Assembly Raheela Durrani hoisted national flag in the premises of Balochistan Assembly. Special programmes have been organized in different cities to celebrate the Independence Day in a befitting manner. All the major public and private buildings, roads and avenues have been decorated with illuminations, national flags and portraits of the national leaders, banners and buntings to give a festive look.