KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has finalised a comprehensive plan for the Independence Day celebrations across the province, scheduled from August 1 to August 14.

Chairing a meeting at the CM House on Saturday, the chief minister said that this year’s celebrations would run from 1st to 14th August, under a dual theme: Independence Day and “Ma’arka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth).

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Sardar Shah, Saeed Ghani, Sardar Mohammad Bux Mahar, Zulfiqar Shah; Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah; Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi; Secretary Local Government Waseem Shamshad; Secretary Education Zahid Abbasi; Additional IG Karachi Javed Odho; Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh; Secretary Information Nadeem Memon; and representatives from Corps-V, the Pakistan Navy and Air Force.

The meeting was informed that the prime minister-led committee had outlined celebrations around six cardinal pillars of success: Uraan Pakistan (Diplomacy, Defence, Economy), Net Regional Stabiliser Status, Soft Power Image Projection, Green Tourism and Sustainability, and Civic Unity and Resilience.

CM Shah directed all relevant departments to ensure full-scale preparations for flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades, cultural events and community engagement programmes across the province. Major cities, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana and others would host large-scale events such as walkathons, youth rallies and public gatherings.

The chief minister also urged district administrations and educational institutions to organise local events, debates and competitions to raise awareness about Pakistan’s history and civic values among students.

The meeting concluded with clear directives to ensure that the celebrations remain inclusive, secure and vibrant, rooted in coordination, discipline and unity.

Governor meets VCs to discuss celebrations

Separately, Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori, who is also the chancellor of the public sector universities in the province, held a meeting with vice chancellors of public and private universities at the Governor House, where detailed discussions were held regarding the upcoming events under the theme “Ma’arka-i-Haq, Independence Day Celebrations.”

The governor directed the vice chancellors to ensure that Independence Day events at universities are held with enthusiasm, dignity and a spirit of national unity.

He stated that “Marka-i-Haq, Independence Day Celebrations” is not just a title, but an opportunity to connect students with ideological awareness, patriotism and the message of unity.

Mr Tessori emphasised that youth must be steered away from hopelessness and towards constructive thinking and active national participation. He added that educational institutions serve as the intellectual backbone of a nation — from where the journey of awareness, progress and development begins.

The meeting was attended by the following academic leaders: NED University of Engineering and Technology VC Prof Dr Muhammad Tufail Jokhio; SBB Dewan University VC Dr Muhammad Aurangzeb Khan; DHA Suffa University Pro-VC Prof Dr Johar Khurshid Farooqi; Dawood University of Engineering and Technology Pro-VC Prof Dr Abdul Waheed Bhutto; Nazeer Hussain University VC Prof Dr Masroor Ahmed Shaikh; Indus University VC Prof Dr Engineer Asim-ur-Rehman Khan; Alma University VC Prof Dr Mansoor-uz-Zafar Dawood; Chancellor of Greenwich University Ms Seema Mughal; Vice-President (Development and Finance) of SZABIST, Nasreen Haque; and Pro-Chancellor of Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology, Dr Syed Yousuf Ahmed, along with other VCs and their nominated professors.

During the meeting, the VCs invited the governor to attend university celebrations as chief guest, which he graciously accepted.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2025