PESHAWAR: The country’s 73rd Independence Day was celebrated on Friday across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with national zeal and fervor as numerous functions, cake cutting and flag hoisting ceremonies and rallies were held under the aegis of government departments, political parties, religious and minority groups, civil society and sports organisations.
In Peshawar, one of the main events was organised in the Police Lines. Chief Minister Mahmood Khan attended the event as chief guest and hoisted the national flag in the lawns of the Police Lines.
A contingent of police saluted the national flag, which was followed by national anthem by a police band. Besides provincial minister Shaukat Yousafzai, CM’s special assistant Kamran Bangash and MPAs from Peshawar, the event was also attended by chief secretary Dr Kazim Niaz, IGP Sanaullah Abbasi, commissioner Peshawar and other government functionaries.
On this occasion, the CM felicitated the entire nation and said that Pakistan came into being as a result of the tireless struggle and unprecedented sacrifices of the Muslims of subcontinent. He said that it was the individual and collective responsibility of all the people to make the country strong and prosperous.
Mahmood emphasises collective responsibility to make country strong and prosperous
Mahmood Khan said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the government was striving to make this country a true welfare state as per the vision of the founders of Pakistan. He said that the government was taking result-oriented steps to make the province a hub of local and international tourism. The CM also laid a floral wreath on the monument of the police martyrs and offered fateha for their departed souls.
A flag-hoisting ceremony was also organised in the morning at the Peshawar High Court Primrose Judicial Cottage, Nathiagali, where PHC Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth hoisted the national flag. Principal officers and staff members of PHC attended the event. On this occasion, special prayers were offered for sovereignty and prosperity of the country.
The PHC chief justice and registrar also planted saplings on the premises of Judicial Lodges.
Similarly, Governor Shah Farman while felicitating the nation on the auspicious day of Independence paid tribute to the leaders and workers who remained actively involved in Pakistan’s movement and struggled to acquire a separate homeland.
He recalled: “Last year, India challenged our sovereignty; however, it was given a befitting response by the Pakistan Air Force which was a reflection of our defence system besides a strong message to the enemy that they must not remain in any self-delusion about Pakistan.”
He also prayed for the independence of Muslims living in India-held Kashmir and said that their long-drawn struggle as well as sacrifices would certainly bear fruit in the near future.
A number of sports events, including a marathon race, were arranged by the Kashmiri Youth at the Qayyum Stadium, Peshawar.
A number of other events, including floodlit football final match between North Waziristan and Tank at Tehmas Khan Football Stadium, followed by Azadi Night Musical Show, Jashn-i-Azadi Sports Festival, were also held as part of the Independence Day celebrations. Sports cycling and ordinary cycling were organised by the Provincial Cycling Association here on the Northern Bypass.
The Sikh community also arranged a rally from Gurdwara Jogasingh via Khyber Bazaar. A joint event of plantation and Independence Day was also held at the Islamia College University. The business community members, including restaurants association, arranged a rally from the Board Bazaar and held a meeting at the Chowk Yadgar. A flag-hoisting ceremony was held at the SCCI here on Friday.
Another flag-hoisting event was held at the Al-Markaz-i-Islami with Jamaat-i-Islami provincial chief Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan in the chair.
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar, marked the 73rd Independence Day at the campus where the flag-hoisting ceremony by the VC Prof Dr Razia Sultana along with the staff and faculty of the university was followed by a cake-cutting ceremony.
In Swat, PM’s special adviser on youth affairs Usman Dar said that PM Imran Khan’s vision of Green and Clean Pakistan would be fulfilled by planting 10 billion trees in the country. He was speaking at a ceremony organised to celebrate the Independence Day at Malam Jabba Ski Resort.
In Lakki Marwat, the district administration organised a car rally to celebrate the Independence Day with national zeal. The rally was led by deputy commissioner Abdul Haseeb.
Similar functions, including flag-hoisting ceremonies, were also held in Haripur, Mansehra, Torghar, Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas, Bajaur and Mohmand tribal districts, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Battagram, Buner, Shangla, Abbottabad and Lower and Upper Dir where many markets, streets and buildings were decorated to mark the Independence Day.
The celebrations on the day were kept simple to avoid large gatherings amid coronavirus emergency.
Independence Day was celebrated in Chitral with a renewed determination to build the country strong and liberate the occupied Kashmir from Indian repression.
The celebrations started with the hoisting of flag by deputy commissioner Naveed Ahmed and MNA Abdul Akbar Chitrali in the Parade Ground.
The speakers, drawn from different walks of life, highlighted the importance of freedom for a nation and called for realisation of the goals for which the country had been achieved.
Functions were also arranged in different areas of the district.
Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2020