KARACHI, March 23: Pakistan Day was observed throughout Sindh as elsewhere in the country with great enthusiasm and renewed pledge by people belonging to all walks of life to work for greater glory, progress and prosperity of Pakistan and follow the ideals as set by the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

The major event of the day was an investiture ceremony held at the Governor’s House, for the first time in Sindh, at which Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan conferred Sitara-i-Imtiaz and President’s Pride of Performance Awards on 21 personalities on behalf of the President of Pakistan.

The ceremony was largely attended, among others, by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Provincial Ministers and Advisors, Sindh Chief Secretary, Nazim Karachi, diplomats, representatives of three services of Armed Forces and notables.

Earlier, both the Sindh Governor and Chief Minister, along with his cabinet ministers, visited the Mazar of Quaid-i-Azam, laid floral wreath and offered Fateha.

Later, the governor and chief minister recorded their impressions in the visitor’s book and renewed the pledge to make Pakistan a modern welfare state according to the ideals of Quaid-i-Azam.

The Governor, Chief Minister and Cabinet Ministers also visited the grave of the Quaid-i-Azam in the cellar of the Mazar.

During his last visit, the governor had issued directives for effective maintenance of this section and to bring it at par with other sections of the mausoleum. The Project Director of the Mazar-i- Quaid briefed the governor about the progress achieved in this regard so far.

The governor issued instructions for decorating the roof of the under-ground portion, its walls and pillars with water proof and decorative material. He asked the Chief Secretary to monitor the work.

The day dawned with a 21-gun salute in the provincial capital. Special prayers were offered in all principal mosques for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.

A large number of people belonging to all walks of life kept visiting the mazar of Quaid-i-Azam throughout the day to pay tributes to the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

Leaders of various organizations also visited the Quaid’s mausoleum where they laid wreaths and offered Fateha.—APP