The nation is celebrating the 76th Independence Day on August 14 (Monday) with traditional zeal and enthusiasm with a renewed pledge to work with the spirit of the Pakistan Movement to make the country a true Islamic welfare state,

The day dawned with a 31-gun salute at the Federal Capital and a 21-gun salute at the provincial headquarters.

Special prayers were offered in mosques at dawn for peace, solidarity and prosperity of the country.

The main feature of the celebrations was a national flag-hoisting ceremony at Islamabad’s Convention Centre where President Dr Arif Alvi unfurled the national flag as the chief guest and shed light on the sacrifices of forefathers for the independence of a separate homeland for the Muslims in the subcontinent.

The ceremony started with the recitation of verses from the Quran which was followed by the national anthem.

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and a large number of people belonging to all walks of life attended the ceremony.

The president, in his address, said: “Nations that forget the sacrifices of their martyrs forget their future. More than 100,000 people sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorism.”

He added: “Efforts and sacrifices for Pakistan started from the war of 1857. Sacrifices were given for the supremacy of law and the Constitution. An atmosphere of unity can be established by following Quranic teachings.”

Similar flag-hoisting ceremonies are also being held at provincial, divisional and district headquarters levels throughout the country.

There was a dramatic pause throughout the country with the sounding of sirens to herald the flag-hoisting ceremony at 9 am.

During his address at Convention Centre, President Alvi said Quaid-i-Azam always discouraged nepotism and voiced for the promotion of merit, unity, socio-economic justice, and poverty alleviation.

He said Pakistan got independence in 1947 because of the long struggle of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and other founding leaders, and the sacrifices of hundreds of thousands of people.

He maintained that the country’s armed forces, police and the public were still sacrificing their lives for the country’s security as over 100,000 people had rendered their lives in the war against terrorism.

The aim of Pakistan’s independence was the establishment of an independent state for the Muslims of the subcontinent to live their lives according to Islamic principles, he added.

The president paid the heartiest tributes to the founders of Pakistan who struggled for independence of Pakistan and the hundreds of thousands of people who embraced martyrdom for Pakistan.

President Alvi stressed the elite of the country to take responsibility for poverty alleviation and promotion of education and health, which he said were inter-connected with each other.

He said currently 27 million children were out of school across the country and needed to enrol in schools.

He stressed that every child should be enrolled in school which could only be possible through resources.

He said everybody should pay his or her due tax so that the government could get more resources to provide maximum facilities to the people.

The president said although it was necessary to explore natural resources buried under the land but the actual wealth was built in our minds which should be fully utilized. He stressed the need to look into the areas of the latest technologies, IT, industries and agriculture.

He quoted Allama Iqbal as saying that without women’s participation; no nation could develop and prosper. Therefore, he called upon the women folk of the country to work for the development of the country by actively participating in all areas.

Quaid-i-Azam, he said also encouraged his sister Fatima Jinnah to fully participate in the country’s politics.

The president also expressed solidarity with the people of Occupied Kashmir. He hoped that by the will of God, soon Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir would become part of Pakistan.

He also thanked the friendly countries including China, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Turkiye, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for supporting Pakistan in its difficult time.

He said Islam always preached peace and love even when the world was desecrating the Holy Quran.

Meanwhile, different public and private departments are also holding special functions and activities, including seminars, discussion programmes, photographic exhibitions, painting, poetry, national songs and debate competitions with the focus on acknowledging the contribution of leaders of the Pakistan Movement and sacrifices of national heroes.

Similarly, private and public educational institutions are also holding different activities, including quiz and speech competitions, functions and sessions to educate the students about the historical struggle for the creation of Pakistan.

Overseas Pakistanis living around the world are also celebrating Independence Day with equal fervour and passion. They will also organize cultural events, flag-hoisting ceremonies, and rallies to show their love and loyalty for the homeland.

The significance of Independence Day goes beyond the celebration of national pride and patriotism. It is a day to remember the struggles and sacrifices of forefathers who fought for our independence.

It is also a reminder of the responsibility we as a nation have to preserve and protect our independence by working towards the progress and prosperity of our nation.

The Independence Day of Pakistan is a day of great historical significance and national pride. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by forefathers for the independence of beloved homeland.

The federal capital and all major and small cities have already turned into green and white colours with a large number of Jashan-e-Azadi stalls carrying dresses, flags, bunting, pin badges, toys and other decorative accessories to attract youngsters and children.

Since the Independence Day celebrations have become a sort of a festival in the country, different brands, online retailers, eateries, cab-hailing services and even electronics companies are offering exciting discount offers, adding more charm to the festivity.

All the major roads and avenues of the federal capital, like other cities, have been decorated with flags, banners and buntings to present a festive look. The major public and private buildings in the city have also been illuminated to mark this important occasion.