15 August 2004	Sunday	28 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, Aug 14: Thousands of people especially children and youth thronged to the Quaid's mausoleum to pay homage to the father of the nation on the nation's independence day.

Carrying green flags and singing national songs, children thanked the great leader of the sub-continent for creating an independent homeland for them.

"This is a record crowd I have ever seen at the mausoleum in the last 10 years," said one journalist who had been covering celebrations at the Mazar-i-Quaid for quite some time.

Elsewhere, fervent youth, riding motorbikes and open vans, chanting slogans "Pakistan Zindabad" in the form of rallies on the streets of Karachi throughout the day.

The Sindh governor, Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, and Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, along with cabinet ministers performed the flag hoisting ceremony at the mausoleum in an impressive ceremony. They also laid floral wreaths at the Quaid's Mazar and offered fateha.

The flag hoisting ceremony was also attended by the Karachi city nazim, Naimatullah Khan, workers of the Pakistan movement, high civil and military officials, diplomats, people belonging to various walks of life and elected representatives.

The day dawned with special prayers at mosques for the stability, prosperity and progress of the motherland, and with a 21-gun salute at the Pakistan Navy unit, PNS Qasim.

Smartly turned cadets of the Pakistan Naval Academy assumed ceremonial guard duties at the Mazar-i-Quaid in an impressive ceremony to mark the day-long independence day celebrations.

Later on, Commander 5 Corps Lt-Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat, Commander Karachi Rear Admiral Asad Qureshi and AOC (Southern) Air Vice-Marshal M Ateeb Siddiqui laid wreaths at the Mazar-i-Quaid and offered fateha to pay homage to the founder of the nation.

KARACHI UNIVERSITY: The vice-chancellor, University of Karachi, Pirzada Qasim on Saturday hoisted the national flag at 8am on the varsity premises to celebrate the independence day.

A large numbers of teachers, students and employees were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Pirzada said, "We should struggle for making Pakistan prosperous by caring for the well-being of our country men, especially the poor."

PIA: Hundreds of employees and officials of the national carrier, PIA, took part in an impressive flag hoisting ceremony held at the PIA head office. Deputy Managing Director, PIA Syed Farooq H Shah performed the ceremony.

Similar ceremonies were also held at all the PIA stations within and outside Pakistan. All PIA buildings were beautifully decorated and illuminated to mark the happy occasion.-APP/PPI