DACCA: The Government of East Pakistan has decided to celebrate the Independence Day on Aug 14 in a simple but befitting manner, it was officially stated here today [Aug 12].

The East Pakistan Governor, Mr Abdul Monem Khan, has asked all the Government departments, autonomous bodies and the industrial concerns to observe maximum austerity in the celebration of Independence Day. Gates, arches and other decorations should be excluded to avoid unnecessary expenditures, he said.

The Governor has also appealed to different organisations and institutions to save half of the expenditures proposed to be spent on illumination and donate the savings towards the Governor’s Flood Relief Fund.

[Meanwhile, as reported by an agency in Rawalpindi,] President Ayub today [Aug 12] admired the people and Government of East Pakistan for boldly facing the situation caused by floods. Addressing a big gathering of people who had come to welcome him on his arrival at Chaklala Airport from Karachi, he expressed his deep concern over the flood havoc in the East Wing and sympathised with the stricken people.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2018