ISLAMABAD: The 77th Independence Day of Pakistan was celebrated with great national zeal and enthusiasm across the country on Wednesday.
Impressive flag hoisting ceremonies were held at the Joint Services Headquarter, General Headquarter and all headquarters of the Armed Forces.
Senior officers of the Armed Forces participated in the flag hoisting ceremonies and presented a salute to the Pakistani flag.
Independence Day was celebrated with a renewed pledge to work with the spirit of the Pakistan Movement to make the nation a true welfare state.
The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and a 21-gun salute in the provincial capitals. Special prayers were offered in mosques for solidarity, peace, and prosperity of the country.
The major event of the celebrations was a national flag-hoisting ceremony in Islamabad, which Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended. Similar ceremonies were also held in provincial, divisional and district headquarters.
The change of guard ceremonies were held at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi and Allama Iqbal in Lahore. In major cities, the authorities have arranged various programs in order to celebrate Independence Day in a most befitting manner.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have extended their heartfelt congratulations to the nation on the occasion of Independence Day, calling for unity, integrity, and economic stability.
In his message on Independence Day, President Asif Ali Zardari highlighted the peaceful and democratic creation of Pakistan as a historic achievement and paid rich tribute to the leaders, workers, and forefathers who made supreme sacrifices for the country.
The President of Pakistan expressed solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine, who have long fought for their freedom and self-determination. He reaffirmed Islamabad’s steadfast support for their legitimate rights.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a message on Pakistan’s Independence Day, said the government’s resolve to foster an inclusive and prosperous nation. The PM extended warm congratulations to the citizens and honored the sacrifices of the forefathers and unsung heroes of the Pakistan Movement, which led to Pakistan’s creation on August 14, 1947, under the steadfast leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The PM expressed gratitude to the armed forces of Pakistan for their role in safeguarding the country’s borders and sovereignty. While celebrating freedom, Shehbaz Sharif expressed solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine, who have long struggled for self-determination and face severe state repression. He reiterated Islamabad’s moral, political, and diplomatic support for their causes.
The Armed Forces of Pakistan, the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and the Services Chiefs extend heartfelt felicitations to the nation on the Independence Day of Pakistan, a momentous occasion that commemorates the realization of a long-cherished dream of a separate homeland for Muslims, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, (ISPR) said, “On this auspicious day, the Armed Forces of Pakistan pay tribute to the visionary founding fathers and valiant veterans, who rendered supreme sacrifices in their unwavering pursuit of freedom and self-determination. Their unrelenting spirit and sacrifices continue to inspire generations”.
The statement added, “The Armed Forces reaffirm their unwavering commitment to defending Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and values, upholding the trust reposed in them by the nation.”
The ISPR further said, “As we celebrate this Independence Day, we reiterate our resolve to preserve our hard-won freedom with honor, dignity, and an unshakeable commitment to our cherished ideals”. Long live Pakistan!
