KARACHI: Sky roared with fireworks as clock ticked 12:00 am to begin celebrations of 70th Independence Day of Pakistan on 14th August.
Meanwhile, fireworks celebrations were held across Pakistan in all the cities. All major public and private buildings, roads and avenues have been tactfully decorated with illuminations, national flags, portraits of the national leaders, banners and buntings to give a festive look.
People took to streets with national flags on their bikes and other vehicles, some even wrapped it around their upper torso and head. Gatherings of sea of people could be witnessed at landmark places.
The nation is all set to celebrate 70th Independence Day on 14th August, Monday, with traditional zeal and pledge to safeguard the country against any threat and make it a truly Islamic welfare state as envisioned by founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Different events will be held in different cities of the country to express thankfulness to God for the invaluable gift of freedom.
The day will dawn with 31 gun salute in the federal and 21 gun salute in the provincial capitals.
After the Fajar prayers, special prayers will be offered for the prosperity, integrity and solidarity of the country and success of the long drawn struggle of Kashmiris.
The main event of the day will be flag-hoisting ceremony at the Parliament House.
President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang will jointly unfurl the national flag at the ceremony.
The president will address the nation on this occasion.
Flag-hoisting ceremonies will also be held at provincial capitals, district headquarters and important national institutions.
A host of events including seminars, conferences, lectures, debates, speech contests, exhibitions, quiz competitions, stage dramas and mushairas have been arranged by different organizations in connection with the day.
The president along with the prime minister, vice premier of China, chairman Senate and speaker National Assembly will lay wreath at Monument of unsung heroes of democracy at the Parliament House on Monday.
A meeting presided by Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb was held in the Parliament House on Sunday to review the arrangements.
A fireworks demonstration in connection with celebrations of Independence Day is being organized at Parade Ground Shakarparian tonight at 11:59 p.m.
In Azad Kashmir, flag hoisting ceremonies will be held at all District and Tehsil headquarters of the liberated territory.
In Muzaffarabad, the flag hoisting ceremony will be held at President House, where AJK President Sardar Muhammad Masood Khan will raise the national flag.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the main function in connection with Independence Anniversary will be held at Governor House in Peshawar on Sunday.
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Iqbal Zafar Jhagra will hoist the national flag. Different educational, cultural and literary organizations have chalked out special functions to mark the Anniversary .
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cycling Association has organized a Jashn-e-Azadi cycle race from Peshawar to Nowshera tomorrow morning.
Functions to mark the 70th Anniversary of independence celebrations will also be held in FATA.
In Karachi, the flag hoisting ceremony will be held at Mazar-e-Quaid-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The change of guards ceremony will also be held at Mazar of Quaid-e-Azam, where a contingent of Pakistan Navy will assume the guard duties.
Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah will attend the event. On this occasion, school children will present national songs and tableaus.
