LAHORE, Aug 13: Independence Day will be celebrated with simplicity in the provincial metropolis in view of the loss of human lives and property in Sindh during the recent rains.
There will be no illuminations on public and private buildings as the government has decided to donate all funds earmarked for the purpose towards the prime minister’s fund for Sindh rain victims.
A public holiday has been declared on the Independence Day and all government offices, industrial and commercial units, markets and bazaars will remain closed.
A seminar, a public meeting by the ARD and the Takmeel-i-Pakistan conference by the Jama’atul Da’wa will be major events of the day. Former President Farooq Leghari and Millat Party leaders will speak at the seminar to be held at the Alhamra Art Centre. Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan and other ARD leaders will speak at the public meeting to be held at Mochi Gate at 5pm. The Jama’atul Da’wa will hold its Takmeel-i-Pakistan conference at the Minar-i-Pakistan grounds at night.
The government has cancelled its rally to be held from Nasser Bagh to Faisal Square in the evening. The rally was to be addressed by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, district Nazim Mian Amer and PML-Q leaders.
The day will dawn with a 21-gun salute and offering of special prayers for the integrity and solidarity of the country and an amicable solution to Kashmir and Palestine issues at all major mosques in the city.
Pakistan Rangers will perform the guard mounting ceremony at the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal at 7am, while the chief minister will lay a floral wreath at the mausoleum soon after the changing of guards ceremony. Later, the chief minister will proceed towards Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort for performing the flag hoisting ceremony. He will also address a gathering at the Hazoori Bagh after hearing the excerpts from the speeches of the Quaid-i-Azam and national songs from students of City District Government schools.
Corps Commander Lt-Gen Zarrar Azim will hoist the national flag at the Corps Headquarters, the Rangers director-general at the Wagah border and Wapda chairman Zulfiqar Ali at the Wapda House.
The corps commander will also attend a get-together of the retired army officers at the Defence Housing Authority office at 5pm. Town Nazims will perform the flag hoisting ceremonies at the Allama Iqbal Town, Aziz Bhatti Town, Shalimar Town, Data Ganj Bakhsh Town, Nishtar Town and Ravi Town. Such ceremonies will also be held at the Punjab Bar Council and Defence Housing Authority offices.
Meanwhile, a group of Pakistani parliamentarians will leave for India on a peace and goodwill mission from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan office in Garden Town.