KARACHI: Millions of men, women and children took part in numerous rallies and programmes held in all cities and towns, as well as villages, across Sindh to celebrate the 71st Independence Day of Pakistan on Tuesday.

The celebrations had started on the eve of Independence Day with a variety of events, including seminars, tableaux and musical programmes at schools, colleges and countless places on various roads and in streets. The celebration reached its peak at midnight when widespread fireworks illuminated skies in the province and different areas reverberated with the sounds of firecrackers. National anthem and songs were played on music systems brought to hundreds of roadside kiosks and stalls exclusively raised to celebrate the occasion.

Flag-hoisting ceremonies were held at educational institutions and government, semi-government and autonomous institutions as well as corporate sector organisations in the morning. People from all walks of life attended the ceremonies in their respective areas before joining rallies or proceeding to other places to attend Independence Day programmes organised by political, religious and social organisations, besides government and private sector institutions.

Revellers in small and big groups were seen moving from one place to the other in convoys raising slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ and singing national songs.

In Hyderabad, the programmes and rallies started on Tuesday morning and continued till late in the evening.

People from all walks of life carrying national flags and wearing white-green dresses, caps, scarves, badges and jewellery joined in the events dancing and singing to the tunes of national songs.

A number of enthusiasts painted their cars, motorbikes and other vehicles with the colours of the national flag and kept taking round of the city.

Hyderabad Commissioner Abdul Waheed Shaikh along with senior local government and police officials hoisted the national flag at a ceremony held in the old district nazim secretariat.

They spoke to the participants and highlighted the services and sacrifices rendered by the Quaid-i-Azam and other freedom fighters for the creation of the homeland.

Similar rallies and programmes were held at Tando Mohammad Khan, Matiari, Tando Allahyar and Jamshoro.

LARKANA: Independence Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervour in Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts.

The main function was organised at Peoples Stadium where Larkana Commissioner Naveed Shaikh was the chief guest. The city mayor and senior police officials hoisted the national flag and saluted it. National anthem and songs echoed in the stadium packed with people from all walks of life.

Children attired in colourful dresses recited naats and performed tableaux. A number of rallies were taken out in the two districts where jubilant participants kept dancing to national songs and waving national flag in the streets.

SUKKUR: The main event in the city was held at Jinnah Municipal Stadium where Sukkur Commissioner Manzoor Ali Shaikh hoisted the national flag with national anthem being played in the background. Students of various educational institutions sang national anthem and songs and some of them presented tableaux highlighting importance of independence.

Mayor Arsalan Islam Shaikh, Deputy Mayor Tariq Chauhan, DC Raheem Bux Maitlo and senior police officials attended the ceremony.

The commissioner announced a local holiday for Wednesday (Aug 15).

All political, religious and social organisations, besides educational institutions of Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kandhkot-Kashmore and Ghotki districts organised Independence Day programmes on Tuesday which were attended by thousands of men, women and children.

In Jacobabad, the main Independence Day event was held at Bahria College, where Jacobabad Deputy Commissioner Imran Khan was the chief guest while Ghotki Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Ali Qureshi hoisted the national flag at his office in Mirpur Mathelo and the main ceremony in Kandhkot-Kashmore district was held in Mini Stadium, where DC Raja Tariq Sial along with senior district and police officials unfurled the national flag.

KHAIRPUR: The district administration held the main Independence Day ceremony at Govt Naz Pilot Higher Secondary School which started with flag hoisting by DC Abdul Fatah Hulio, SSP Fida Hussain Mastoi, district council chairman Shahryar Wassan.

With national anthem being played in the background, police and scouts contingents paid a salute and presented march past. Students of more than 15 government and private schools took part in various events including PT, karate, parade, performance on national songs, declamation and tableaux that followed.

DADU: Deputy Commissioner Tariq Manzoor Chandio hoisted national flat at a ceremony at his office to formally declare start of the Independence Day celebrations in the district.

The DC underlined the need for a continuous struggle by all citizens towards the country’s progress and prosperity.

Another major event was held at Sindh University’s local campus where Prof Anwar Ali Shah G. Syed hoisted national flag and spoke to a large number of students and people from all walks of life. He recalled the freedom movement and highlighted the role of national heroes in achieving the goal of a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent.

MIRPURKHAS: The main Independence Day ceremony in Mirpurkhas district was held at Commissioner Complex where Deputy Commissioner Sheharyar Gul Memon and DIG Saqib Nisar Memon hoisted national flag at a ceremony.

It was attended by senior district and police officials as well as a large number of students, their parents and workers of various public and private institutions.

District council chairman Mir Anwar Ali Khan Talpur also spoke to the participants and highlighted significance of homeland and education.

Independence Day rallies and other events were also held in all towns of Shaheed Benazirabad, Badin, Tharparkar, Sanghar, Umerkot and Shikarpur.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2018