PESHAWAR: The country’s 69th Independence Day was celebrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas with traditional zeal and zest on Friday.
The people paid tribute to leaders of freedom struggle and prayed for the country’s integrity and prosperity.
In Peshawar, the day opened with the 21 guns salute.
The main event of the day was the flag hoisting ceremony on the lawn of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, who was the chief guest on the occasion, hoisted national flag.
Rose petals were showered on participants from the air by a helicopter, while the police band played musical compositions of national songs.
Children of Peshawar Municipal School sang national songs. The chief minister joined them. He later awarded them cash prize for good performance.
A cultural troupe of Frontier Constabulary performed traditional Mehsud dance.
The participants prayed for integrity and prosperity of country as well as for the policemen, army official and children of Army Public School, who laid down their life in the fight against terrorism.
Also in the day, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a flag hoisting ceremony at the Chamber House.
KPCCI president Faud Ishaq hoisted the national flag, while senior KPCCI members and businessmen were also present on the occasion.
A band of FC played national anthem and national songs.
The Rescue 1122 also held a flag hoisting ceremony at its provincial headquarters where its director general, Asad Ali Khan, was the chief guest.
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf women’s wing arranged an Independence Day ceremony at its provincial secretariat. A musical event was also arranged by PTI youth and student wings.
The culture department arranged an Independence Day at Nishtar Hall, which was attended by scores of people.
Besides, Shabab-i-Milli also took out a ‘Geo Pakistan’ rally from Nishtarabad to Firdous Chowk.
Flag hoisting ceremonies also took place at all government universities in the city.
People stepped out of their houses to celebrate Independence Day in
large numbers due to improvement in security situation.
In Charsadda, too, rallies and functions were held to mark Independence Day.
Students, social activists, political workers and people from other walks of life observed the day with zeal and zest and expressed solidarity with the families of terrorism victims.
Schoolchildren paid tribute to students and staff of APS Peshawar during a function at the Hayatullah Shaheed High School in Rajjar.
Also, private schools, rights organisations and district administration organised the Independence Day ceremonies.
In Mansehra, federal minister Sardar Mohammad Yousaf addressed an Independent Day function at the Scout Cadet College Batrasi and urged students to study science and technology wholeheartedly to help the country overcome challenges.
In Swabi, the main Independence Day function was held on the lawn of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology auditorium.
Faculty members, teachers, students and employees of the institute participated in the function.
Deputy commissioner Mattiullah Khan attended an Independence Day function at the Government High School Swabi.
In Buner, rallies were held in schools and offices of the district administration to observe Independence Day.
Deputy commissioner Khaista Rehman was the chief guest at the main function, which was held in district headquarters, Daggar.
Functions also took place at the DHQ Hospital, press club and district prison.
In Nowshera, scores of people attended a ceremony at the Government High School to observe the Independence Day. Deputy commissioner Zakaullah Khattak was the chief guest on occasion.
The schoolchildren delivered speeches, sang national songs and performed skits to highlight the importance of the day.
In Upper Dir, the main flag hoisting function was held at Dir Stadium, where deputy commissioner Imran Hameed Sheikh was the chief guest.
Students of government and private schools sang national songs and delivered speeches on the occasion.
In Timergara, the district administration, Dir Levies, Pakistan army, educational institutions, student wings of political parties and youth organisations arranged colourful events to mark the Independence Day.
The speakers paid tribute to leaders of freedom struggle and urged students and youths to come forward and help turn Pakistan into a modern welfare state.
In Mardan, the main Independence Day function was the flag hoisting ceremony at the Pakhtunkhwa House, where commissioner Khalid Hussain Khan was the chief guest. A function also took place on Garden Campus of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, where Vice Chancellor Professor Ihsan Ali and faculty members were present.
National song and speech competitions were organised on the occasion.
In Karak, the main Independence Day ceremony took place at Khushal Khan Khattak University.
Vice Chancellor Professor Ibrahim Khattak hoisted the national flag.
Later, a speech competition took place among students.
In various parts of Khyber Agency, including Landi Kotal, security forces and political administration organised special ceremonies to mark the Independence Day with fervor.
Functions also took place in schools and government offices, where speakers paid tribute to security forces for their resolve to eliminate terrorism.
Display of fireworks was also held on the eve of Aug 14.
In Lakki Marwat, the 69th Independence Day was celebrated with zeal and zest. The Pakistan army Tajazai base camp commander, Brigadier Abdul Hamid, hoisted national flag at a grand function held in the Lt Adnan Shaheed Sports Complex.
The army, police and levy personnel saluted the national flag, while national anthem was also played.
In Ghalanai, headquarters of Mohmand Agency, the Independence Day was marked with traditional fervor.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Mahtab Ahmad Khan was the chief guest at the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Ghalanai Sports Stadium.
In Khar, the headquarters of Bajaur Agency, the main Independence Day function took place at Levies Lines in Civil Colony.
Political agent Mohammad Yahya Akhunzada, who was chief guest on the occasion, hoisted the national flag.
Tribal elders, members of peace committees, political and religious activists, senior administration officials and levies force personnel attended the ceremony.
Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2015
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