PESHAWAR: Like other parts of the country, Pakistan’s diamond jubilee was celebrated with traditional zeal and fervour across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday.

Commemorative ceremonies were held in the provincial capital and the district headquarters in connection with the 75th Independence Day of the country.

In the provincial capital, the day dawned with a 21-gun salute and prayers for the security and progress of Pakistan.

The Independence Day celebrations started in Peshawar on the night of Aug 13 and continued till wee hours of Aug 15. However, the noise of bikes without silencers on the city roads and plastic horns used by children and youths marred the celebrations. The children were also seen with paintings on their faces, participating in the ceremonies along with their parents. Many of them were attired in white and green colour clothes of Pakistani flag.

Most government and private buildings were illuminated in the provincial capital, where all public parks were packed beyond capacity as the jubilating Peshawarites gathered there in connection with the Independence Day.

At Qayyum Sports Complex, the directorate of sports organised a car show followed by musical and dance performances, national sports heroes’ award ceremony, fireworks, tonga and rickshaw decoration show.

In a statement, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa acting Governor Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani said independence was a gift of God and the nation should respect it. Mr Ghani, who is the KP Assembly Speaker, paid homage to the nation’s heroes. “We resolve on this occasion that we will face the challenges with unity.”

Addressing an Independence Day ceremony, Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan extended felicitations to the legal fraternity and entire nation.

He called for making strenuous efforts to make Pakistan a strong and progressive country. He also hoisted the national flag on the occasion. Former and serving judges of PHC, principal officers, district and sessions judge Peshawar, dean KP Judicial Academy, executive chairman KP Bar Council and others were in attendance.

In Mansehra, inmates of the district jail took part in a games and folk dance competition organised by the prison’s superintendent to mark the 75th anniversary of the country’s independence. The jubilant prisoners raised pro-Pakistan slogans and cheered players.

Flag hoisting ceremonies, seminars and rallies were also held in Mansehra, Torghar, Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas districts of Hazara division.

In Lower Dir, different functions and cake-cutting ceremonies marked the 75th Independence Day. The district administration in collaboration with the Timergara Campus of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, arranged a colourful function attended by school children, varsity students, teachers and people from different walks of life.

The Independence Day celebrations were also held at the main campus of the University of Malakand.

In Haripur, flag hoisting ceremonies

were held in the district headquarters, tehsil municipal offices in Khanpur and Ghazi, Tarbela dam, office of district health officer and different educational institutions to mark the diamond jubilee celebrations.

Officials of district administration, education department, lawyers and members of civil society participated in the functions.

Students of different government and private educational institutions presented national songs, tableaus, speeches and PT shows. A marathon race and cultural programmes were also held.

In Kohat, the main Independence Day ceremony was held at the District Hall of the KDA Township, where MPA Ziaullah Bangash, district administration officials and army officers prayed for peace and prosperity of the country.

Children sang national songs and presented tableaus and got huge applause from the participants.

In Orakzai, the day was marked with the enrolment of 100 boys and girls in government primary schools by the education department.

A five-kilometre march was also held by hundreds of tribesmen to create awareness among people for school enrolment.

A two-day Pakistan Day cultural and arms exhibition was also held at the sports ground in the tribal district.

In Swabi, the diamond jubilee of the motherland was celebrated with zeal and fervour.

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology organised a function attended by faculty members, other staff and students.

In Lakki Marwat, the district administration, the army, education department and boy scouts association organised functions to mark the Independence Day.

A police contingent presented a salute to the national flag, while the national anthem was also played. Students and scouts delivered speeches and sang national songs after the flag hoisting ceremony.

In Bannu, deputy commissioner Aun Haidar Gondal hoisted the national flag at a ceremony held in the sports complex. A police contingent presented a salute to the national flag.

Mr Gondal also inaugurated a tree plantation drive on the occasion.

Independence Day was celebrated in Shangla, Charsadda, Malakand, Nowshera, Battagram, Bajaur, Khyber, Mardan, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat and rest of the districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2022