LAHORE - Brisk preparation are underway by various segment of the society to celebrate the 61st Independence Day in a befitting manner on August 14. This year the day will be celebrated in a different way amidst threat to the solidarity and integrity of the country. The people will reiterate their pledge to safeguard the solidarity of the country and to frustrate the enemy designs by amount of sacrifices they are required to offer at all fronts. The preparations are in progress both at public and private sectors, a week ahead of the occasion. A number of public buildings have already been illuminated including the Punjab University Old Campus, PMG office, Civil Secretariat etc. while the remaining will be lit on Tuesday and Wednesday. The markets particularly the Urdu Bazaar and Gumpat Road have turned into a sale points of Pakistan flags, stickers, banners and buntings which have been printed in hundreds of thousands numbers. The business is in full swing as these items are in great demand by the people. Various organisations like the Nazaria Pakistan Trust, the Tehrik-e-Pakistan Workers Trust have made special arrangements at the Aiwan-e-Karkunan Tehrik-e-Pakistan to celebrate the day. A sale centre for the sale of Pakistan flags of various sizes, stickers and banners on most competitive rates have also been arranged at the Aiwan. The Nazria Pakistan Trust has also started 10-day Independence Day celebrations of holding seminars, debates, mushairas, exhibitions, singing of national song competition etc. Punjab government has arranged a grand band show at the Alhamra on the day in the afternoon for the amusement of people and the entry is free. The walled city areas, Circular Road, Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Islampura, Gowalmandi are also humming with festivities and banners. At Islampura, the youngsters have set up camps that are profusely illuminated and decorated to play national songs to create a spirit of nationalism and patriotism among the people. Independence day processions have also started. The Government has lifted ban on section 144 to facilitate the processions before and during the main event. It has also set up monitoring cell for the maintenance of law and order on the Independence Day. The Jamaat-tul Dawah will organize Defence of Pakistan conference at the Minar-e-Pakistan on August 14.      While there is greater reflection of spirit of patriotism and concern for Pakistan's sovereignty and need to promote the Two-Nation Theory to safeguard its integrity, there are organisations like the SAFMA, the Peoples Rights and the Rafi Peer Theatre, which have planned to celebrate the Pak/India Independence Day jointly on Aug 14 and 15. Their delegation will go to India on Augs 13. They will also organise joint melas at the Wahga Border and other such activities.