ISLAMABAD: The nation will mark the 141st birthday of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, on December 25 (Monday) across the country with traditional zeal and fervour.
Quaid-i-Azam was born on December 25, 1876 in Karachi.
The birthday is a public holiday in Pakistan and the national flag will be hoisted on major government buildings throughout the country. The day will dawn with special prayers for the security, progress and prosperity of the country.
Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage will celebrate the day with the theme ‘Hamara Quaid and Mein Hoon Quaid Ka Pakistan’.
Special events will be arranged on the day to highlight and promote ideals and views of the father of the nation, particularly with regards to rule of law, supremacy of constitution and upholding of democracy.
The celebrations would be aimed at educating the youth about the Quaid’s vision and Pakistan’s ideology. Activities will be held in schools and colleges and the government, social and literary organizations will arrange special programmes to shed light on Quaid-i-Azam’s lifelong political struggle and his guiding principles of unity, faith and discipline.
The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) will hold a week-long programme to celebrate the Quaid’s birthday including speech contest on December 21, tableau contest on December 22 and national songs competition on December 23.
Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications is also arranging a week-long photographic and paintings exhibition on the birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam titled ‘Hamara Quaid’ at Aiwan-i-Quaid, Fatima Jinnah Park, F-9. The exhibition opened on December 20 and will continue till December 25 for the general public.
Quran Khawani would be held at the Mazar-i-Quaid in Karachi, while change of guards ceremony would also take place.
A large number of people from all walks of life would visit the tomb to pay tribute to Quaid-i-Azam for his services he rendered for the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent.
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a lawyer and a politician who served as leader of the All India Muslim League from 1913 until Pakistan’s independence on August 14, 1947, and then as Pakistan’s first governor-general until his death on September 11, 1948.
Quaid Day: The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) has scheduled a number of cultural activities in connection with Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s birthday celebrations from December 22.
These programs will include display of Milli Naghmas on large screen multimedia projector in Museum Hall from December 22 to December 30.
In this regard, a special ceremony will be held on December 25 at 11 am in Heritage Museum. Painting exhibition themed ‘Humare Quaid’ will be held on the same day and ‘Artisans at Work’ exhibition from December 25 till December 30.
The Lok Virsa Mandwa Film Club would organize screening of film Jinnah on December 30 at its media centre. An official of Lok Virsa said that a large number of students from various educational institutions would participate in the celebrations at the Lok Virsa premises.
Published in Daily Times, December 21st 2017.