RAWALPINDI: Like people across the country, the residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad celebrated 79th Independence Day with rallies, seminars and functions of flag hoisting and cake cutting.

Special ceremonies were organised in government offices while people thronged public parks and main roads to celebrate the day.

The day began with special prayers held in mosques, churches and other worship places for the development and stability of the country. People, including girls, boys and children, visited stalls set up in various parts of the city to buy national flags of different sizes, badges, hair bands, ribbons, masks and bandanas. Many of them got painted their faces with national flags to express their love with

Pakistan. Similarly, vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, houses, buildings, plazas, markets and shopping malls were decorated with national flags, buntings and electric bulbs.

Political and military leaders paid tributes for making Pakistan’s defence impregnable

In most areas, business activities remained suspended. Public elected representatives also displayed hoardings and banners along with main roads having pictures of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Fatima Jinnah, Dr Allama Mohammad Iqbal and other prominent figures who played vital role in the Pakistan Movement.

In the evening, families thronged parks and other points to enjoy the day. Rush was seen in all the parks and cinema houses of the city and cantonment areas. This year, there was no flag-hoisting ceremony held at commissioner office Rawalpindi but the district administration arranged a function in a private hall adjacent to Ayub National Park.

Commissioner Salman Ghani said that Independence Day is being celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. True service to the country and nation requires that facilities be created for the people.

“We all have great responsibilities. We should serve the people with sincerity and passion. Every individual must play their positive and effective role in the development and prosperity of the country,” he said. Deputy Commissioner retired Captain Nadeem Nasir said that Pakistan is on the path of development and prosperity. Pakistan’s defence system has become invincible. Independence Day is a day of renewal of commitment. We must resolve to play our role for the development, stability and prosperity of the country, he said.

Furthermore, a grand Independence Day ceremony was held on the premises of Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench. Senior Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan hoisted the flag along with judges Justice Khan said that freedom is the greatest blessing in the world which our ancestors achieved after great sacrifices.

He said that we all need to play a positive role in the development of the country in the light of the thoughts of Quaid-e-Azam.

Meanwhile, Pir Mehar Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University celebrated Independence Day with a flag-hoisting and cake-cutting ceremony. A special seminar was also organised.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Qamaruz Zaman said that Independence Day provides an opportunity to remember and pay tribute to the martyrs who rendered the ultimate sacrifices for the creation and defence of Pakistan. He particularly paid homage to Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his companions and associates whose unwavering struggle and sacrifices paved the way for the establishment of Pakistan.

A flag-hoisting ceremony was held at the Rawalpindi GPO. Chief Postmaster Rawalpindi Atif Naveed Dhothar hoisted the national flag.

Rawalpindi Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education also arranged a function at its offices where Chairman Prof Dr Iqbal Mehmood hoisted the flag.

Meanwhile, functions were held in Rawalpindi Cantonment Board which was attended by RCB Member Zahid Bakhtawari, Additional Cantonment Executive Officer Zia Hussain and others while in Rawalpindi Development Authority also arranged a function.

A flag-hoisting ceremony was also held at the Rawalpindi Arts Council, in which Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture Punjab Shazia Rizwan was the special guest.

Gilgit-Baltistan

Independence Day was celebrated across Gilgit-Baltistan with national zeal and fervour with a 21-gun salute in the Gilgit city. Special prayers were offered in mosques for peace, solidarity and prosperity of the country.

Flag-hoisting ceremonies were held in all the 10 district headquarters of GB, while government buildings, streets, markets and public places were decorated with national flags, buntings and colourful lights. The main ceremony in Gilgit was attended by Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain Advocate, the deputy speaker of the GB Assembly, provincial ministers and senior officials.

At the ceremony held at Chinar Bagh, the chief minister hoisted the national flag and laid a wreath at the Martyrs’ Memorial.

A rally attended by officials, students, teachers and citizens culminated at Yadgar-i-Shuhada in Skardu, where a flag-hoisting ceremony was held and tributes were paid to the martyrs of the freedom struggle.

Addressing the ceremony at the Martyrs’ Memorial in Chinar Bagh, the chief minister said Pakistan was celebrating its 79th Independence Day in a dignified manner.

“Today is a day to pay tribute to our elders, thanks to whose sacrifices and struggles we are breathing in a free atmosphere,” he said. He said Pakistan’s defence was impregnable and paid tribute to former prime ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif for their contributions to the country’s nuclear and missile programmes.

The chief minister also praised Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the armed forces for responding to the Indian aggression. “Pakistan’s prestige has been raised all over the world. We pay tribute to Chief of Defence Forces General Asim Munir and the Pakistan Armed Forces,” he said.

Mr Hussain urged people to pledge to move forward in all fields and overcome the country’s weaknesses.

“Together, we have to move this country forward,” he said, stressing the need to fulfil responsibilities with justice, fairness and honesty.

— Jamil Nagri contributed to this story from Gilgit

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2026