FAISALABAD/Multan/Sialkot - Like other parts of the country, Pakistan Day was also celebrated in different Punjab cities including Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan, Khanewal, Vehari and Lodhran with a renewed pledge to utilise all energies and capabilities for steering the country out of multifaceted problems and making it developed and prosperous one.
The day dawned with special prayers in mosques after Fajr prayers for solidarity and prosperity of the nation.
The main flag hoisting ceremony was held at Metropolitan Corporation Complex near Station Chowk where Deputy Commissioner Ali Shehzad along with City Police Officer (CPO) Ghulam Mubasshar Mekan and MPA Firdous Rae hoisted the national flag.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Headquarters Kashif Raza Awan, Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Tanveer Ahmad Mali, SSP Operations Muhammad Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) District Education Authority (DEA) Ali Ahmad Siyan, CEO Health Dr Bilal Ahmad, Assistant Commissioner City Sahibzada Muhammad Yousuf, Managing Director (MD) Faisalabad Waste Management Company (FWMC) Bilal Firoz and others were also present on the occasion.
The participants of the ceremony recited national anthem while a smartly turned out contingent of police presented salute. The DC also cut cake to celebrate the Pakistan Day while colorful balloons and pigeons were released in the air.
Expressing his views, Deputy Commissioner Ali Shehzad said the entire nation was celebrating the Pakistan Day with unity as it was the historical day when the resolution for the independence of Pakistan was passed.
He vowed that Pakistan would be made welfare state on the pattern of Riyasat-e-Madina by following the golden principles of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Later, Deputy Commissioner Ali Shehzad along with CPO Ghulam Mubasshar Mekan and MPA Firdous Rae led a march past which started from Station Chowk. The participants holding banners and placards marched on various city roads up to Zila Council Chowk.
A large number of schoolchildren and activists of civil society participated in the march past.
Later, special “Dua” was offered for the solidarity, progress and prosperity of the country while sweets were also distributed among the participants.
Meanwhile, scores of ceremonies to mark Pakistan Day held across the south Punjab in which citizens took part actively and pledged to perform role for uplift of the homeland.
In Multan city, the main ceremony held under auspices of district administration. The smart contingent of Punjab Police, Rescue 1122, Civil Defence presented guard of honour. Commissioner Multan Division Dr Irshad, Regional Police Officer Javed Akbar Riaz hoisted the national flag. Deputy Commissioner Amir Karim, CPO Khurram Shehzad, and some local politicians also joined the ceremony.
Similarly, ceremonies were also held at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Aspire Group of Colleges, Union Council 20 and almost in every educational institute. The civil society organization including Young Pakistanis Organization also convened a ceremony in a private college and Shah Ruknuddin Alam Colony. Apart from this, more than 500 cyclists took part in cycle race which commenced from Chungi No-9 and ended at Gol Bagh. The winners of the contest were given prizes by the district administration.
Pakistan Day ceremonies were also arranged in Khanewal, Vehari, Lodhran and some other towns of the region. The citizens cut cakes and pledged to serve the dear homeland with national fervour.
The Pakistan Day was observed in Sialkot on Wednesday with fervor and national zeal.
The main flag hoisting ceremony was held at the Deputy Commissioner Complex. Deputy Commissioner Imran Qureshi, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Punjab on Punjab Board of Investment and Trade Chaudhry Ahsan Saleem Baryar, District Police Officer (DPO) Sialkot Hassan Iqbal, Additional Deputy Commissioner General (ADCG) Farooq Akmal, Assistant Commissioner Sialkot Muhammed Murtaza, AC Headquarter Raheel Baig, Chief Officer (CO) Metropolitan Corporation Zubair Wattoo, DSP Traffic Sabir Chatha, District Emergency Officer (DEO) Engineer Naveed Iqbal, Educationist Ashiq Siddiqui, Mirza Abdul Shakoor and a large number of people from all walks of life attended the ceremony.
The Deputy Commissioner along with Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Punjab Board of Investment and Trade Chaudhry Ahsan Saleem Baryar and District Police Officer (DPO) Sialkot Hassan Iqbal performed the flag hoisting ceremony.
The DC and special assistant to Chief Minister Ahsan Saleem Baryar and DPO Hassan Iqbal while addressing the participants said that Pakistan Day was a day of renewed commitment. On the day, the Muslims of subcontinent dreamed of a separate homeland.
They said the whole nation salutes to the leaders of freedom movement, martyrs and Ghazis.
“Today, we have to pledge that we will not hesitate to render any sacrifice for the protection of country and we will protect its ideological and geographical boundaries till the last drop of blood”, they said.
They said that Pakistan would one day stand among the rank of developing nations, adding every responsible citizen had to perform his duties with honesty.
Finally, prayers were offered for the security and stability of country and the nation.
