August 14, 2003	Thursday	Jumadi-us-Sani 15, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The nation will celebrate the 57th Independence Day on Thursday in a sober and dignified manner and a pledge to make Pakistan an economically strong country.

Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has advised the people that the day be celebrated in a sober manner in view of heavy losses of life and property in Sindh and Balochistan due to torrential rains and floods.

The day will dawn with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salute in the provincial headquarters.

Special prayers will be offered for the solidarity, integrity and economic well-being of the nation after the Fajr prayers.

The main event of the day — the flag-hoisting ceremony — will be held in front of the Parliament House in Islamabad.

The prime minister will unfurl the national flag at 8.00 in the morning. The flag-hoisting ceremony will be preceded by siren wailing across the country at 7.59am. After flag hoisting, national anthem will be played.

On the occasion, the prime minister will address the nation on Radio Pakistan and PTV. The flag-hoisting ceremonies will also be held at the provincial and district headquarters across the country.

In view of the losses due to rains and floods, there would be no musical events, stage dramas and illuminations at night.

Mr Jamali will also inaugurate the special Madar-i-Millat Train at Rawalpindi railway station. Nine bogies of the train have been refurbished at Moghalpura workshop, Lahore, giving it a cultural touch and will have the rare photographs of Madar-i-Millat.

It will travel to 40 stations of the four provinces to highlight the services of Madar-i-Millat for the nation.—PPI