KARACHI: Teenage Abdul Naseh was confused that what size of the buntings, flags and souvenirs, he should buy; the shop is offering so many designs. He has planned special celebrations with his friends on Independence Day of Pakistan to be celebrated on August 14. “I will celebrate the day with my friends,” said Nasiee. He has came to buy flags and buntings with his father. “I saved money to buy buntings for Independence Day celebration,” he added. Preparations to celebrate 70th Independence Day are in full swing with great enthusiasm and national passion here in Karachi, Jashan-e-Azadi preparations are getting momentum as the day is approaching fast while national flags are being sold like hot cakes. Paper Market at Pakistan Chowk, Karachi’s biggest wholesale market for decoration items and very popular “Jhanda galli” where the vendors have set up their stalls to sell colorful bunties, national flags, banners, T-shirts, hats, bangles, badges, wrist bands and it’s all green. Children are ahead of all to buy decorative stuff. “Decorative items are in high demand these days including national flags, multi-coloured garlands, badges, ‘Minar-e-Pakistan’ models and portraits of the Quaid-e-Azam and national heroes”, said Muhammad Jalil, a shopkeeper in Jhanda gali. People belonging to various communities are busy in decorating their houses with national flags and the buildings, city shopping malls, bazaars and all the main roads are also being adorned with flags and fancy lights. One old aged man with his grand son viewed while recalling his sweet memories regarding Independence Day celebration that in our days we had no such formalities but now people spend a huge amount and it has become a business and things are very expensive. “Thanks to Quide Azam that he gave us Pakistan”, he said Public complains are common that prices of flags, buntings and other stuff like badges are out of reach of a common man. “The businesses of these items at all big stores as well as by roadside vendors remain on peak which shows the zeal of people belonging to all ages”, businessman Muhammad Furqan remarked. All government and private departments are busy to finalize the special programs regarding 70th Independence Day . In this regard. Karachi’s Mayor Waseem Akhtar has announced to celebrate the 70th Independence Day of Pakistan in a good manner and gave it a name ‘Champions Ka Pakistan’ and it will be celebrated with joint collaboration of KMC officers’ welfare association and KMC. The celebrations will continue from August 1 to 14. Spokesman of Mayor Karachi said that 20,000 national flags will be hoisted all over the city and all the roundabouts of the city will be decorated. Interior Minister has ordered to hoist flags at every police station and on police mobile as well. On 14th August there will be flag hoisted ceremony in every police station. Spokesman of Education Minister told Daily Times that all government schools will arrange special programs on Independence Day. The schools will arrange dramas, tableau, speech contests and poetry competitions to celebrate the day. Published in Daily Times, August 4th 2017.