KARACHI: Every nook and corner of Sindh was illuminated with fireworks as the slogan of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ raised by millions of jubilant men, women and children reverberated the entire province at midnight intervening Saturday and Sunday, marking the start of unprecedented celebrations for the 69th Independence Day of Pakistan. People many of them wearing green and white dresses, symbolising the national flag, and waving flags and buntings packed the streets of all cities, towns and villages to join in the celebrations. Major arteries and all roads leading to them in all big and small cities were also packed with vehicles carrying revellers. The celebrations continued till the next midnight.

Jubilant youths were seen dancing in the streets while national songs kept playing in moving vehicles and thousands of roadside stalls, where sound systems were installed. National flags were hoisted atop millions of residential, commercial and other buildings as well as public and private places, which were tastefully decorated with colourful buntings and electrical illuminations.

All political and religious parties, NGOs and social organisation organised hundreds of Independence Day events. Elected representatives, bureaucrats and opinion leaders spoke at the programmes and highlighted salient features of the Pakistan Movement and the role of the Quaid-i-Azam and his associates in getting Muslim their own homeland.

In Hyderabad, people from all walks of life celebrated the Independence Day with national zeal and fervour. They took part in scores of rallies and other events in large numbers while students of schools, colleges and universities attended flat-hoisting ceremonies held at their respective institutions before joining in other events outdoors.Young girls and boys with national flag painted on their faces, arms and wrists accompanied their parents or friends during the celebrations. Most participants in the Independence Day celebrations wore badges, bracelets and caps coloured as national flag.

Many of the revellers were carrying portraits and pictures of the Quaid-i-Azam and other Pakistan Movement leaders, national heroes and prominent leaders like army chief General Raheel Sharif.The same zeal and fervour was witnessed in the celebrations held in Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Badin and Jamshoro districts.

In Sukkur, great enthusiasm was witnessed in participants in scores of rallies and events held at educational institutions, public and private institutions and open places to celebrate the Independence Day. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in the rallies taken out at midnight and continued into the following day. Flag hoisting ceremonies were held at schools and all government offices.

In Mithi, flag hoisting ceremonies were held at educational institutions, public and private offices as well as offices of all political parties amid jubilations in the streets by hundreds of thousands of people.

Leaders of political and religious parties as well as social organisations and NGOs spoke at various programmes held across Tharparkar to highlight the significance of independence.

In Umerkot district, scores of Independence Day programmes were held in different towns and villages to mark the occasion.

Revellers march through the streets of Umerkot city and other towns raising slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ and dancing on the tunes of national songs. The celebrations kicked off with fireworks at midnight and continued till dusk on Sunday.

Members of the minority communities also took part in the celebrations with national zeal. Special prayers for the integrity and solidarity of Pakistan were held at temples and churches, besides mosques, on Sunday. People in large numbers participated in the special prayers.

Independence Day events were held in all small and big towns of Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushahro Feroze, Sanghar, Lar­kana, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Jacoba­bad, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Kandhkot-Kashmore and other districts.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2016