ISLAMABAD, Jan 25: The Kashmir Solidarity Day will be observed throughout the country and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in a befitting manner on Feb 5 (Saturday).

The governments of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir have announced a national holiday on Feb 5. People will observe one-minute silence at 10am to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

Pakistani missions in foreign countries will also chalk out programmes to observe one-minute silence according to the time difference in their respective countries. The president and prime minister of Pakistan will issue special messages for the day. A joint session of the AJK Council and AJK Assembly will be held in Muzaffarabad.

In the evening, a Kashmir convention will be held at the Convention Centre in Islamabad where Kashmiri leaders, and important social and political figures will highlight the importance of the day.

Rallies will be held in Muzaffarabad and other cities to mark the day. Demonstrators in the Azad Kashmir capital will march up to the UN office and present a memorandum.

Special functions will be held in educational institutions to underline the heroic struggle of the Kashmiri nation for their right to self-determination. Awards will be given to leading personalities for their contribution for Kashmir cause in different fields. A walk will also be arranged in Islamabad.

Lok virsa will organize a Kashmir Festival in Islamabad for general public. The cabinet division will arrange an exhibition in cooperation with Lok Virsa about documents on Kashmir, including the original copies of the resolutions on Kashmir passed by the UN. -APP