ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The nation will celebrate the 59th anniversary of its independence on Monday with traditional enthusiasm and renewed pledge to make the country prosperous and strong.

The day will dawn with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and with 21-gun salute at provincial capitals. Special prayers will be offered for the integrity and solidarity of the country and unity of Ummah.

A two-minute silence will be observed at 8.58am when sirens will herald the start of flag hoisting ceremonies throughout the country. All traffic will come to a standstill for one minute.

The main ceremony will be held in the Jinnah Convention Centre where Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will unfurl the national flag. Later, he will deliver his message to the nation for the day. Schoolchildren will sing national songs on the occasion.

Similar ceremonies will be held at provincial capitals, district and tehsil headquarters, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Northern Areas, Pakistan missions abroad, Joint Staff Headquarters, GHQ, Formation Headquarters and Quarter Guard of all units. National anthem will be played.

Change of Guard will take place at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal.

Social, cultural, religious, political and educational organisations have chalked out various programmes to mark the day in a befitting manner and pay homage to national heroes and martyrs of the freedom movement.