PESHAWAR: Like others parts of the country, 76th Independence Day was celebrated with national zeal and enthusiasm in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday.

In Peshawar, several flag hoisting ceremonies were held on the occasion and some government buildings were beautifully decorated with green and white colours. The main event was held at Civil Secretariat Peshawar wherein the caretaker chief Minister, Mohammad Azam Khan, hoisted the national flag as a chief guest.

The government officials, civil society members, journalists and students also participated in the event. A contingent of police saluted the national flag and played national anthem.

The chief minister cut the Independence Day cake and planted saplings on the premises of Civil Secretariat. Schoolchildren presented a national song on the occasion.

Govt officials, elders, students and journalists attend ceremonies in large numbers

Later, the chief minister visited police lines and laid a wreath on the Martyrs’ Memorial.

A flag hoisting ceremony was also held at Peshawar High Court. PHC Chief Justice Ibrahim Khan hoisted the flag. The judges of high court and civil courts, provincial advocate general and a large number of lawyers attended the ceremony.

Another event was held at Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). The acting president of SCCI, Ijaz Khan Afridi, hoisted the national flag and paid glowing tribute to personnel of law enforcement agencies for the sacrifices rendered by them for their motherland.

The traders of Nauthia Bazaar also celebrated the day. Flag hoisting and cake cutting event was held at St John’s Cathedral.

Bishop of Pakistan Humphrey Sarfaraz Peter paid tribute to the people, who rendered sacrifices for the country, on the occasion.

Another event was held at University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar wherein Vice-chancellor Dr Iftikhar Hussain hoisted the national flag as chief guest.

He also planted a sapling to initiate monsoon plantation campaign.

Independence Day celebrations were also held at different stations of Rescue 1122 in Peshawar and other districts.

According to a statement, similar events were organised in educational institutions in different districts. The students of 34 universities and 375 colleges participated in these events.

In Kohat, a sports gala was organised for the inmates of Jarma jail to involve them in the Independence Day celebrations on Monday.

Trophies were awarded to the winners of matches of tug-of-war, volleyball, debates and musical chairs.

The prisoners also danced to drumbeats.

Meanwhile, the paragliding club of Orakzai Scouts was launched as part of Independence Day celebrations at the hilly summer resort of Samana where families from different countries started arriving on Monday.

A three-day festival has been kick started in Samana at a height of 7,000 feet with the arrival of 60 pilots, artists and players besides 20 motorcyclists from different parts of the country to take part in various competitions.

Twenty motorcyclists from Punjab also reached Samana after a stay of one night in Kohat. The festival has been organised under the auspices of Orakzai Scouts.

International glider Shaukat Khattak said that they would hold an international event for gliders in the area.

He hoped promotion of tourism would create jobs in the area.

The commandant of Orakzai Scouts, Col Mohammad Tasneem, said that the main purpose of the festival was to introduce the unexplored Orakzai region as a tourist resort.

In Lakki Marwat and Bannu, different events were held to celebrate the Independence Day of the country.

The flag hoisting ceremonies were held at the office of deputy commissioner in Lakki Marwat and commissioner’s house in Bannu. Civil and military officials and people from different walks of life attended the ceremonies.

In Mohmand district, locals, government officials, students and personnel of law enforcement agencies took part in different events to celebrate Independence Day.

Mardan, Charsadda and Nowshera also witnessed different colourful functions in connections with Independence Day celebrations.

Officials of various government departments, local elders, journalists, and students participated in a large number in those events.

Independence Day was also celebrated in the upper parts of Hazara division. Flag hoisting ceremonies were held in different districts of the division.

Kaghan Development Authority also organised a national music event in Naran to mark the day. Events and rallies were also held to mark the day in Torghar, Kolai-Palas, Upper Kohistan and Lower Kohistan districts. People from all walks of life largely attended the events.

In Lower Dir, the district administration in collaboration with the youth affairs department arranged a function in Balambat to mark the day. Saplings were also planted on the occasion.

In Haripur, flag hoisting ceremonies were held at the offices of deputy commissioner and tehsil municipal administrations besides Tarbela Dam, district bar association and different educational institutions including University of Haripur.

Different events including flag hoisting ceremonies, rallies and sports tournaments were also held in Battagram, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Chitral, Shangla and Bajaur to celebrate the 76the Independence Day of the country.

People from different walks of including students and local elders besides high ranking military and civil officers participated in those events.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2023