Guwahati: Pakistanis are celebrating today (Saturday) the country’s 75th year of Independence with traditional zeal and fervour, with commemorative ceremonies held in cities across the country.
The celebrations began with change of guard ceremonies held at Mazaar-i-Quaid and Mazaar-i-Iqbal in Karachi and Lahore, respectively, and a 31-gun salute in the capital, followed by 21-gun salutes in all four provincial capitals, reported Radio Pakistan.
Jashn-e-Azadi Mubarek .
The long-held tradition of 31-gun salute at the Federal and 21-gun salute at the Provincial Capitals continues.
Pakistan Zindabad-Paindabad pic.twitter.com/DlLqZtei5B— Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri (@Zhchaudhri) August 14, 2021
A flag-hoisting ceremony was held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad where President Dr Arif Alvi was the chief guest. Addressing the ceremony, the president paid tribute to the leaders of the freedom movement, including Liaquat Ali Khan, Allama Iqbal, and Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
LIVE #APPNews : President Dr. Arif Alvi at Independence day flag-hoisting ceremony Aiwan-e-Sadr #Islamabad @ArifAlvi @PresOfPakistan #14august2021#PakistanZindabad https://t.co/S0q6OqSPej
— APP 🇵🇰 (@appcsocialmedia) August 14, 2021
Meanwhile, President Alvi has also approved to confer 126 civil awards on Pakistani citizens and foreign nationals for showing excellence and courage in their respective fields today, according to APP.
These awards include three Nishan-i-Imtiaz, two Hilal-i-Pakistan, six Hilal-i-Imtiaz, four Sitar-i-Pakistan, three Sitara-i-Shuja’at, 17 Sitara-i-Imtiaz, 39 President’s Award for Pride of Performance, three Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam, 17 Tamgha-i-Shuja’at, 31Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, and one Tamgha-i-Quaid-i-Azam.
The ceremony of these awards will take place on March 23.
In his message shared by the Prime Minister Office’s Twitter handle, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the country must reiterate the firm resolve to uphold the national values of unity, faith and discipline as envisioned by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
He said Pakistan has surmounted monumental challenges during the course of its history to emerge as a united, peaceful and resilient nation.
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI Khan’s message on Independence Day 2021:
“As we hoist our national flag to mark Independence Day, we must reiterate the firm resolve to uphold our national values of unity, faith and discipline as envisioned by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah”
1/11 pic.twitter.com/1xhCXnQGqc
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) August 14, 2021
