PESHAWAR: The Independence Day celebrations kicked off in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal areas with the start of the month of August on Friday with people having started decorating their houses, buildings, markets, shops and vehicles with national flags, stickers and fancy lights to express their love with the motherland.

People from all walks of life, including students, youth, rickshaw and taxi drivers, in large numbers were seen buying national flags, stickers, badges carrying photos of national heroes, at bookshops, stalls and markets in historic Qissa Khwani and Laiquat bazaars of the city.

Keeping in view the zeal and enthusiasm of the people, the shopkeepers have set up special colourful stalls with variety of goods, including stickers, badges, buntings, national flags, banners and pictures of national heroes.

“I came to Qissa khwani Bazaar from Nowshera to buy 200 stickers and badges for myself, brothers, sisters, friends and class fellows as part of Independence Day celebrations,” Ehtisham Qaiser, a second year student of a private college in Peshawar, told APP. “Like the past, I will celebrate the Independence Day with my friends and class fellows with full national spirit,” he added.

Qaiser said he and his cousins would be in the provincial capital on August 14 to take part in the national flag hoisting ceremony.

Misal Khan, a retired government employee, was buying badges and stickers for his children, besides national flags, at Laiqat Bazaar. He said 68 years ago on August 14 Pakistan came into being due to the struggle and sacrifices of Muslims of the subcontinent under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinah.

Today, he said, Pakistan was confronted with a number of challenges, including law and order, IDPs issue, energy shortages, and the entire nation should extend full support to the government to address the same.

Misal Khan said the security forces were fighting the terrorists in North Waziristan Agency, and they should be fully backed by all. He said it was not a time for protests and sit-ins, rather the democratic system should be strengthened.

The owners and drivers of cars, rickshaws, motorcycles and buses also started decorating their vehicles with national flags and stickers.

The political parties, public and private organisations have planned scores of events to celebrate the Independence Day in a befitting manner. Rallies, processions, exhibitions and colourful functions in all small and major towns and cities of the province have been planned.

The PML-N, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has planned several functions in connection with the Independence Day celebrations, which will continue for one month. The celebrations will be held at provincial, district and tehsil levels. The members of parliament, district presidents, general secretaries, office bearers, and workers of PML-N will display stickers and badges of Pakistan and hoist national flags on their houses, shops, vehicles and motorcycles on this historic occasion.

Meetings, rallies, seminars, talk shows and cake cutting functions will be held at district and tehsil levels, in which general public will also be invited.

On the evening of August 13, candles will be lit for the martyrs of Pakistan Movement and war against terror at public places in which public representatives.

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd , 2014