Key Points
- The day began with gun salutes and special prayers across the country for peace, prosperity, and national solidarity
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led the main flag-hoisting ceremony at the Pakistan Monument, joined by top government officials and students
- Flag-hoisting ceremonies and tributes to national heroes took place in all provinces, including Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit
- Pakistan’s military leadership extended heartfelt messages, vowing to protect the country’s sovereignty and honour the legacy of the nation’s founders
ISLAMABAD: The green and white Pakistani flag flew high across the country on Thursday as the nation marked its 78th Independence Day, elevated by the resounding success of Marka-e-Haq – a recent symbol of resilience and unity in the face of external aggression.
The day began with the traditional thunder of thirty-one gun salutes in the federal capital and twenty-one gun salutes in all provincial capitals, setting a tone of reverence and resolve. Across the country, mosques echoed with special prayers for peace, prosperity, and solidarity — a spiritual start to a day that celebrates the sacrifices of the past and the vision of a future Pakistan as a true Islamic welfare state.
At the heart of the celebrations was the main flag-hoisting ceremony at the iconic Pakistan Monument in Islamabad. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hoisted the national flag in the presence of Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, cabinet members, parliamentarians, and schoolchildren — a powerful tableau of the nation’s democratic and generational continuity.
Pakistan’s armed forces also showcased a wide array of defence equipment in a public exhibition at Shakarparian Parade Ground in Islamabad as part of Independence Day celebrations and to mark the victory against Indian in operation ‘Marka-e-Haq’.
Similar ceremonies painted the provincial capitals in patriotic hues:
In Lahore, Acting Governor of Punjab Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan led the celebrations at Governor’s House.
Karachi saw Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah hoist the flag at the mausoleum of the Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
In Quetta, Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti stood alongside Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai to honour the day.
From Dera Ismail Khan to Muzaffarabad and Gilgit, flags were raised high, with tributes paid to martyrs and national heroes.
A solemn moment unfolded in Lahore where Corps Commander Lieutenant General Fayyaz Hussain Shah laid a floral wreath at the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal, reaffirming the timeless vision of the poet-philosopher who dreamed of a sovereign Muslim state.
Pakistan 🇵🇰 Zindabad pic.twitter.com/vubVcMgAd4
— Muhammad Ali Randhawa (@RandhawaAli) August 13, 2025
Adding profound depth to the day, Pakistan’s Armed Forces issued a powerful message through Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). “As we pay homage to our founding fathers, we honour their indomitable spirit, resolute determination, and unparalleled sacrifices under the visionary leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,” the statement read.
The military leadership – including Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief of Air Staff Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu extended heartfelt felicitations to the nation, pledging continued protection of Pakistan’s sovereignty, constitution, and shared values.
This year’s Independence Day carries deeper meaning, as the recent success in Marka-e-Haq, Pakistan’s resolute response to India’s unprovoked aggression, has infused the national spirit with pride and determination. The victory, symbolic of national unity and military excellence, has become a rallying point for Pakistanis from all walks of life.
From city skylines to village rooftops, flags wave with renewed vigour. Streets shimmer with lights and buntings, while children, draped in green and white, sing patriotic songs — all testifying that the spirit of August 14 is not only alive but rising.
