LAHORE: The working class celebrated the 70th Independence Day on Monday all over the country under the aegis of the All Pakistan Workers Confederation to pay tribute to the martyrs of Partition and those who were sacrificed for the defence of the country.

A meeting of the trade union representatives and workers was held at Bakhtiar Labour Hall where hundreds of union representatives and workers from Wapda and its distribution companies, railway, telecommunications, textiles, engineering, chemical, banking, irrigation, transport and other industries were present.

Union leaders Khurshid Ahmed, Rubeena Jameel, Yousaf Baloch, Akbar Ali Khan, Osama Tariq, Haji Muhammad Younus, Chaudhry Anwar Gujjar, Khushi Muhammad Khokhar and Niaz Khan addressed the participants.

The house, in a resolution, pledged to strengthen the struggle of the working class to establish an egalitarian society based upon social justice, equality, fraternity, democracy and free from feudalism and monopolistic and capitalism as pledged by the father of the nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

They appealed to political parties and federal and provincial governments to formulate a national plan of action for economic and social development and to eliminate poverty, unemployment, ignorance and irrational gaps between the rich and the poor.

A national flag was hoisted outside Labour Hall and prayers were offered for the progress of the nation.

WAPDA: A ceremony was organised at Wapda House where Wapda Member (Power) Badrul Munir Murtiza hoisted the national flag measuring 100 X 40 feet followed by the national anthem recitation by the students of WAPDA schools.

NPPMCL: The National Power Parks Management Company (NPPMCL) celebrated Independence Day with families of martyrs of Pakistan army and Punjab police. The NPPMCL held national flag hoisting ceremonies at Balloki and Haveli power plants.

NPPMCL chief executive officer Rashid Mehmood performed the flag raising ceremony at Balloki power plant.

Pilac: The government-run cultural institutions on Monday observed Independence Day with national zeal and zest.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Lahore Arts Council Executive Director Atta Muhammad Khan said: “We should actively participate in making the nation greater.”

The Independence Day celebrations at Alhamra Arts Council started with the flag-hoisting ceremony and prayers for the prosperity of the country. People in large numbers dressed in green and white visited the arts council and enjoyed different programmes.

For children, special functions were arranged. An art competition was held at Alhamra Art Gallery and the winning children received prizes. A puppet show was also organised that grabbed the attention of both children and grown-ups.

Ainak wala jin, Taleem sub ke liay and Aladdin aur jadu ka charagh were among some of the programmes enjoyed by the visitors. A folk dance event attracted attention of the people as well.

The Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (Pilac) held a panel discussion as part of a week-long Independence Day celebrations.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2017