Daily Times

LAHORE: Lahoris on Thursday celebrated Pakistan Day with enthusiasm and arranged a number of activities to commemorate the Lahore Resolution of 1940 and the enforcement of Pakistan’s first constitution on March 23, 1956.

The daylong celebrations of the 77th anniversary of Pakistan Day kicked off at midnight with a display of fireworks at Minar-e-Pakistan. A large number of citizens rushed to the Greater Iqbal Park before midnight to see the night sky being lit up with fireworks.

The day dawned with a 21-gun salute by the Pakistan Army at Mehfooz Shaheed Garrison, Barki, where the troops paid tribute to the martyrs.

Special prayers were also offered after Fajr prayers for the progress, harmony, prosperity and solidarity of Pakistan.

Political parties, district administration, educational institutions, Punjab Rangers, Pakistan Army, civil society activists and people from all walks of life also arranged a number of ceremonies on the day.

Cake-cutting ceremonies, seminars, flag hoisting and lowering ceremonies, exhibitions and speech competitions were also arranged throughout the day.

A guard mounting and wreath laying ceremony was held at the mausoleum of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal. A smartly turned out contingent of the Pakistan Air Force took the responsibility of guards from the Sutlej Rangers.

Pakistan Air Force Base Commander Air Commodore Salman Mahboob was the chief guest on the occasion.

The air commodore laid a floral wreath and offered fateha at the grave of Dr Allama Iqbal on behalf of the chief of the air staff, airmen and other members of the Pakistan Air Force. The day was also celebrated at all PAF bases and installations with traditional zeal and fervour.

Pakistan Rangers Punjab, while celebrating the Pakistan Day, gifted sweets to Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel. Pakistan Ranger Wing Commander Lieutenant Colonel Bilal Ahmed Warraich gave them sweets on this special day. The traditional ceremony took place at midday with zeal and enthusiasm at the Joint Check Post, Wagah. Further, a flag-lowering ceremony was also observed at Wagah border in this connection on Monday evening.

The Lahore district administration also organised a special programme in connection with Pakistan Day at the Government Islamia High School, Khazana Gate, to recognise the services of leaders and workers of the Pakistan Movement.

Punjab Minister for Education Rana Mashood Ahmed and Deputy Commissioner Sumair Ahmed Syed were the chief guests on the occasion, while teachers, students and people belonging to all walks of life participated in the ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said, “We all have to take Pakistan on the track of progress, prosperity and religious harmony in our personal capacity and we all, particularly teachers, should play an active role in this regard.”

He said the government had completely eliminated the quota system and recruitments were now being made purely on the basis of merit.

Addressing the participants, Deputy Commissioner Sumair Ahmed Syed said that the nation must adopt the ideologies of Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal, and work together for the progress of the motherland and for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity. “The message conveyed through the Pakistan Resolution compels us even today to unite for the interest of the state,” he added.

He also stressed the need for following the Quaid’s message of ‘unity, faith and discipline’ to achieve success.

The city district administration also arranged several programmes at different government schools. On the auspicious occasion, students performed on patriotic songs and sung national songs, besides delivering speeches on the topic of Pakistan Day.

Separately, a flag-hoisting ceremony was also held at Jam-e-Shirin Park, which was specially participated by Mayor Col (r) Mubashir Javed. Speaking on the occasion, he stressed the need for following the directions and “rules of our forefather and founder of this nation” who struggled day and night for getting a separate piece of land for the Muslims. Members of the Christian community also arranged a special prayer ceremony to mark the day at Cathedral Church. Pastor Shahid Miraj led the prayer for the prosperity of the country.

The Child Protection Bureau also arranged a cake-cutting ceremony and celebrated the day with children and a delegation of the University of Chicago.

The University of Health Sciences also observed the Pakistan Day with traditional zeal and a renewed pledge to make the country a strong, progressive and prosperous state.

The national flag was hoisted on the campus by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Junaid Sarfraz Khan, after which the national anthem was played. A walk was also organised on the occasion. Meanwhile, the Emporium Mall is also set to host a Pakistan Day concert with Ali Azmat this coming Saturday. This was announced in a message by the musician on his social media account, in which he invited all Lahoris to join him and celebrate the day.

The mall is also hosting multiple exciting activities for children and adults to celebrate the Pakistan Day, which will continue until March 26.

The Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust also arranged an event at its premises, in which prominent speakers addressed the participants. NPT Chairman Muhammad Rafique Tarar said that Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent had resolved on March 23, 1940, to achieve an independent homeland, which enabled them to mould their life in accordance with the Islamic principles.

He greeted the audience on the Pakistan Day and stated that it was an important milestone in our national history that the Muslims of the subcontinent got a separate homeland within a short span of seven years due to the wisdom of the founder of the nation.