LAHORE: The University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore celebrated the 70th Independence Day with traditional enthusiasm and passion at its Johar Town Campus. UMT Rector Dr Muhammad Aslam along with Director General Abid HK Shirwani hoisted the national flag early in the morning. The most important segment of Independence Day celebrations was the Azadi Festival, which the university management organised in the evening. Thousands of students and their parents, employees, faculty members, families and general public took to the varsity ground embellished with exotic foods stalls, shopping booths, kids’ corner, fireworks, games and many more things that attracted them to chant slogans of Long Live Pakistan. Speech and quiz competitions, games and dressing shows, poetry and national songs contests were also held to amuse the audiences. Speaking on the occasion, Rector Dr Muhammad Aslam said Pakistan was a great and unique gift from Almighty Allah, for which we should thank Him and remember the sacrifices of our elders. He said the impact factor for Pakistan’s development was education and research so “we must focus on this factor to place the country in the list of well-developed and civilised nations of the world”. The rector urged students to give importance and preference to their studies so that an able and competent leadership was entrusted to the country. Expressing his views, UMT Director and Azadi Festival Chief Organiser Ibrahim Hasan Murad said that the UMT intended to infuse a sense of national pride and patriotism in students. He said the UMT would continue working for the development of the country. Published in Daily Times, August 16th 2017.