ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: The nation celebrated the 58th Independence Day on Sunday with traditional zeal and fervour throughout the country and Azad Kashmir as well as the Pakistani missions abroad.

The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for the country’s stability and prosperity, success of the independence movement in Kashmir and the well-being of ummah.

The celebrations started with booming of 31-gun salute at dawn in Islamabad and 20-gun salute at provincial capitals.

The main event of the day was the befitting flag hoisting ceremony at Islamabad where Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz unfurled the national flag followed by the playing of the national anthem.

The ceremony was attended among others by federal ministers, parliamentarians, senior government officials, notables and diplomats.

Similar ceremonies were also held at provincial and district headquarters.

In Lahore, the main function was the foundation-stone laying of Bab-i-Pakistan. President General Pervez Musharraf laid the foundation-stone of the monument being built at the place where thousands of refugees took shelter on the occasion of independence in 1947.

Bab-i-Pakistan is being built to pay homage and tribute to those who rendered great sacrifices for the cause of Pakistan.

In Karachi, the cadets of the Pakistan Naval Academy took over the guard duty at the mausoleum of the Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan and Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim hoisted the national flag at the mausoleum at 8am. They jointly laid wreaths and offered fateha along with members of the provincial cabinet.

Representatives of three armed forces also laid a wreath and offered fateha at the mausoleum.

The celebrations began in Lahore with thanksgiving prayers at Fajr in all major mosques of the city. After sounding of sirens at 7.55am the entire traffic halted for a minute and citizens observed silence as the national anthem was played.

The main ceremony was held at the Alamgiri Gate of the historic Lahore Fort where Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi hoisted the national flag while schoolchildren sang patriotic songs.

The chief minister also laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal.

People living in other cities, towns and villages decorated their houses with national flags and colourful buntings and photographs of national heroes. Roads and streets were decorated with national flags.

Seminars, declamation contests, symposia and quiz contests were arranged in all parts of the country to highlight the Pakistan Movement. Sports events and other special programmes were also held.

The flag-hoisting ceremonies were also held in schools, colleges and head offices of the public and private organisations across the country.

Earlier at midnight between Saturday and Sunday, President Musharraf and Prime Minister Aziz were guests at the cultural function organized by the PTV in Lahore and attended by a large number of artists.

President Musharraf participated in the show and appreciated the artists. He addressed the show and highlighted the government policies and future plans.—Agencies