SIALKOT/SARGODHA/AHMEDPUR EAST/BAHAWAL
PUR/SAHIWAL/MANDIBAHAUDDIN/CHINIOT/GUJRANWALA
/BUREWALA/FAISALABAD/MUZAFFARGARH/
TOBA TEK SINGH/SHEIKHUPURA
Flag hoisting ceremonies, parades, exhibitions, painting, declamation and national songs competitions were held to celebrate the 68th Independence Day of Pakistan with enthusiasms and national fevour and renewal of pledge to render every sacrifice to safeguard the geographical and ideological frontiers of the motherland. Besides Quran khawani and special prayers were offered for the departed souls of Pakistan Movement workers, martyrs and forefathers and prosperity and sovereignty of Pakistan.
According to details, in Sialkot, people celebrated 68th Independence Day with traditional zeal and fervour in district as special arrangements were made to mark the day with zeal and enthusiasm. The day was dawned with special prayers in mosques at Fajr for the progress, prosperity and solidarity of the country.
In Sialkot, the main national flag-hoisting ceremony was held at historical Sialkot Fort. Two-minute silence was observed there. Local MPAs - Mansha Ullah Butt, Ch Muhammad, the DCO, senior Pak Army officials and President Sialkot District Bar Association (DBA) Shahid Mir jointly hoisted the national flag.
All the government and semi government departments also took out Azadi rallies in various parts of Sialkot city and surrounding areas.
In Daska, national flag hoisting ceremony held at Civil Rest House under the auspices of Daska TMA wherein MNA Sahibzada Syed Iftikharul Hassan Shah, MPAs - Muhammad Asif Bajwa, Mrs Shabeena Zakariya Wyne and AC Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhoon jointly hoisted the national flag.
In Sambrial, MPA Ch Arshad Javaid Warraich and AC Malik Munawar Hussain jointly hoisted national flag during a special ceremony held there.
In Pasrur, local MPAs Ch Munawar Ali Gill, Rana Muhammad Afzal and AC Tauqeer Ilyas Cheema hoisted national flag.
In Sargodha, Pro-Vice Chancellor University of Sargodha Dr Zahoorul Hassan Dogar addressed a ceremony held at the university to mark 68th Independence Day. The Pro-VC said that nations which are alive essentially celebrate their birth anniversary on independence days. Our ancestors gave great sacrifices to get rid of colonialist regimes. They left their living houses and cities just for Pakistan, Dr Zahoorul Hassan added.
Dr Ghulam Yaseen, UoS Registrar Brig (r) Rao Jamil Asghar, Deans, Chairmen of various departments, staff and the social figures in large number attended the ceremony. The students sang the national songs and a special walk was organised to mark Independence Day.
In Ahmedpur East, 68th Independence Day was celebrated in the Subdivision with enthusiasm. PML-N MPAs - Qazi Adnan Farid and Malik Khalid Mehmood Warran hoisted national flag in Municipal Stadium to mark the day. AC Malik Attaul Haq Khokhar and DSP Shafqat Atta were also present on the occasion. Similarly an Independence Day ceremony was organised by the TMA where speakers paid rich tribute to Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and underlined the need for stand united behind Pakistan armed forces.
Station Commander Dera Nawab Sahib Brig Mohammad Rafique hoisted national flag in Dera Nawab Sahib Cantt while he also attended big dinner. Flag hoisting ceremonies were also held in different educational institutions where students highlighted the role of Quaid-e-Azam in Pakistan movement and sacrifices of thousands of Muslims.
In Sahiwal, Independence Day was celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm here in Sahiwal. Main Function held at Jinnah Hall where flag hoisting ceremony was performed by Provincial Minister For Zakat and Ushar Malik Nadeem Kamran.
Commissioner Muhammad Siddique Sheikh also addressed the ceremony. A large number of students presented national songs while RPO Sahiwal Division Faisal Shakir, other officers, notables and a large number of students participated in the function.
Another flag-hosting ceremony was in Central Jail Sahiwal where Provincial Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran was the chief guest. On this occasion, prisoners presented national songs.
Jail Superintendent Gulzar Butt, Commissioner Sheikh Muhammad Siddique, DCO Dr Sajid Chohan and DPO Syed Khurram Ali addressed the ceremony. Later sweets were distributed among the prisoners. Similarly Govt Girls College Harrapa also celebrated Independence Day in befitting manner.
In Bahawalpur, 68th Independence Day was celebrated with the renewal of pledge to make country strong, stable, progressive and prosperous.
The day dawned with special prayers in mosques after Fajr prayer for national solidarity, well being of Muslim Ummah and early settlement of Palestine, occupied Jammu & Kashmir disputes.
The city was decorated tastefully with colourful buntings, national flag, banners, posters and portraits of Pakistan movement and national heroes. The main function of the day was held at famous Dring Stadium where State Minister Mian Baleeghur Rehman hoisted the national flag. Another flag-hoisting ceremony was held at Abbasia Campus Islamia University where Vice-Chancellor Dr Saleem Tariq Khan hoisted national flag. The ceremony was largely attended by students, faculty members and staff of Govt Sadiq College Women University and Islamia University.
The flag hoisting ceremonies were also held at Police Lines, Bahawalpur Garrison, LHC Bahawalpur Bench, Radio Pakistan, Central Library and Bahawalpur Museum to mark the day.
In Toba Tek Singh, several functions were held in accordance with Independence Day celebrations while rallies were also brought out to celebrate August 14 with national fervour.
DCO Dr Farah Masood, former district nazim Ch Abdul Sattar, DPO Dr Asif Shahzad, MPAs - Mian Rafiq, Ayub Gadhi and Amjad Javed, DPO Asif Dogar, ADC Khadim Jilani and PML-N leaders were guests at main national flag hoisting ceremony in Sports Stadium. JI workers also took out a rally under the leadership of Dr Zahid Sattar and Mian Wakeel Ahmad while the rally organised by Ahle Sunnat Waljamat rally was led by Maulana Awais.
In Mandi Bahauddin, a graceful flag hoisting ceremony organised by the district administration at TMA lawn to celebrate 68th Independence Day. DCO Muzaffar Sial was the chief guest while DPO Junaid Arshad and other government official, notables of the area, ex-servicemen, members’ civil society and students participated in the function. The ceremony began at 8am with hoisting national flag. A smart and well turned out police squad presented salute to the chief guest.
All major public and private building were illuminated and decorated with national flags, portraits of national heroes, banners and buntings. Youngsters held motorcycle rallies carrying national flags in their hands. In the morning special prayers were offered for liberation of Kashmir and Palestine. NGOs also held separate functions and celebrated the day in a befitting manner.
In Chiniot, more than three dozen functions were held across the district including in Chiniot, Lalian and Bhwana tehsils. Flag-hoisting ceremony was held at TMA office wherein flag was hoisted by DCO Dr Irshad Ahmad, MNA Qaisar Ahmad Sheikh, Maulana Ilyas Chinioti and MPA Maulana Rehmat Ullah, AC Shumaila Manzoor, DPO Abdul Qadir Qamar, TMA Administrator Mian Jamil Ahmad, Traders Organization President Haji Jamil Fakhri, PML-N District President Mehr Aftab Ahmad, City President Sheikh Khalid Faiz and other important dignities, political and social leaders attended the function.
Other functions were organised by Govt Islamia College, Vegetable and Fruit Market Association, Traders Association Rail Bazaar, Karyana Association, Govt Girls High School, Literacy Department, Anjuman Shehryan, Tehrik Alfalah and the District Police. The office-bearers of Chaman Welfare Society visited DHQ Hospital and distributed fruits and sweet among patients.
In the evening PML-N workers took out a motorcycle rally lead by MNA Qaisar Ahmad Sheikh to mark the day.
In Gujranwala, 68th Independence Day was celebrated with national fervour and enthusiasm. The day dawned with prayers in mosques for prosperity and solidarity of the country. Various flag hoisting ceremonies were held including in Cantt area which were attended by civil and army officers and soldiers were participated in large number. All major public and private buildings and roads have been illuminated and decorated with national flags, portraits of the national leaders, banners and buntings. Ceremonies, seminars and exhibitions have also been arranged in different places to highlight the importance of independence and struggle by the forefathers for an independent country.
In Faisalabad, Independence Day was celebrated with zeal and national enthusiasm throughout the district. The day dawned with special prayers for the prosperity and development of Pakistan and Quran Khwani was held for the departed soul of martyrs in mosques. The main function of national flag hoisting was held at Commissioner Office Complex. Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs and Human Rights Khalil Tahir Sindhu, others members of Parliament including Haji Muhammad Akram Ansari, Sh Ejaz Ahmad, Faqir Hussain Dogar, Begum Najma Afzal, Begum Suryia Naseem, Mian Tahir Jamil, Commissioner Sardar Akram Javed, RPO Ehsan Tufail, DCO Noorul Amin Mengal, CPO Suhail Habib Tajik, Pakistan Movements workers - Alhaj Sh Bashir Ahmad, Haji Bashir Ahmad Insaf walay and others hoisted national flag and all participants recited national anthem. Pigeon and colourful balloons were left into the air. On the occasion, contingents of police, Jail, civil defence and Rescue 1122 presented salute and march past. The students of different educational institution sang national songs to express their love for the motherland.
Later, Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Khalil Tahir Sindhu and DCO Noorul Amin Mengal visited DHQ Hospital and distributed sweets among the patients.
Meanwhile, various programmes were also held under the aegis of political, social, religious, trade and others organizations to celebrate the Independence Day in a befitting manner. The Independence walks, rallies, youth convention, declamation contests, paintings and books exhibitions and other programmes were held to highlight the Pakistan ideology and show love with the country. Scores of sports events were also held in connection with the Independence Day celebrations including mini Marathon Race, wrestling and funny race competitions among the girls. The district administration decorated roads, intersections, parks and other public places with the national flags, portraits of national heroes and other ornamental items.
In Burewala, August 14 was celebrated with great fervour and here on Thursday and main ceremony was held at Jinnah Hall where PML-N MNAs - Syed Sajid Mehdi, Ch Nazir Ahmad Arain along with MPAs - Ch Irshad Ahmad Arain, Muhammad Yousaf Kaseliya, AC Saifullah Sajid, DSP Zulfiqar Ali, TMO Rana Muhammad Shahid hoisted national flag. A police contingent presented guard of honour while school children sung national anthem. On the occasion PML-N City President Ghulam Rasool Zaidi, Markazi Anjuman Tajran General Secretary Muhammad Saghir Ramay, PML-N leaders Muhammad Aslam Malik, Naeem Sabir Chaudhry, Hafiz Rizwan Abid, Muhammad Fayaz Qasim, Muhammad Shahid while heads of different government and private educational institutions attended the ceremony.
In Muzaffargarh, 68th Independence Day was celebrated with due exuberance, national spirit throughout the District along with four sub-division including Jatoi, Alipur, Muaffargarh and Kot Addu. Enthusiastic and charged men, women and children throughout the district celebrated the day to pay respect to those patriotic leaders because of whom the nation was taking breathing an air of freedom.
The main flag-hoisting ceremony was held at Fasil Stadium DG Khan Road wherein DCO Hafiz Shaukat Ali, ADCG Sikandar Zulqurnain Kitchi, MPA Hamad Nawaz Tipu and DPO Rai Zameerul Haq hosted national flag. Different programmes, seminars, conferences, discussions, debate and poetic competitions were held throughout the district under the supervision of DO Social Welfare Khalid Mehmood Chaudhry to pay homage to the founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his companions for their struggle for an independent state for Muslims of the sub-continent.
In Sheikhupura, the 68th Independent Day was celebrated in an around the city with great enthusiasm and fervour. The main flag-hoisting ceremony was held at Company Bagh Ground which was decorated profusely. DCO Ali Jan Khan, local Parliamentarians and people from all walks of life beside high ranking officials participated in the ceremony.
AJK marks the day
MIRPUR (AJK)
Like rest of Pakistan, 68th Independence Day of Pakistan was also celebrated across the AJK with traditional national zeal, fervour and renewal of the pledge by Kashmiris to continue the ongoing struggle for the birth right to self-determination to complete Pakistan by breaking the shackles of Indian yoke.
Major national flag hoisting ceremony to mark the day was held simultaneously with the nation-wide national flag hoisting program - under the joint auspices of the City Municipal Corporation and the National Events Organizing Committee at the Municipal Corporation lawn where Divisional Commissioner Syed Zahoorul Hassan Gillani, DIG Police Mirpur Range Dr Khalid Mahmud Chohan, Deputy Commissioner Ch Muhammad Tariq, City Administrator Ghulam Rasool Awami and Additional SP Mirpur Ch Munshi Khan hoisted the national flags of Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir.
Besides various personalities representing diverse segments of civil society, Vice Chairman National Events Organizing Committee Amjad Iqbal Chaudhry and other city elite were also present at the national flag hoisting ceremony.
A well uniformed contingent of AJK Police presented guard of honour and salute at the ceremony.
Another major national flag hoisting ceremony was held at the campus of Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST) where its Vice Chancellor Dr Habibur Rehman (Sitara-e-Imtiaz) hoisted national flag of Pakistan and AJK. A large number of local dignitaries including academic staff members and the varsity students attended the colourful ceremony.