Islamabad: The nation celebrated the 79th Independence Day today with a renewed pledge to work with spirit of Pakistan Movement to make the country a true Islamic welfare state. The day dawned with a thirty-one-gun salute at the Federal Capital and a twenty-one-gun salute at provincial headquarters. Special prayers were offered in mosques for peace, solidarity, and prosperity of the country.

According to Radio Pakistan, the main flag hoisting ceremony was held at Pakistan Monument in Islamabad where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hoisted the national flag. Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, cabinet members, parliamentarians, and school students were present on the occasion. Flag hoisting ceremonies were also held in the four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

In Punjab, the main ceremony was held at Governor House in Lahore, where Acting Governor Punjab Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan hoisted the national flag. Meanwhile, Corps Commander Lahore, Lieutenant General Fayyaz Hussain Shah visited the mausoleum of national poet and philosopher, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, laid a floral wreath, and offered Fateha.

In Sindh, a flag hoisting ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Quaid Karachi where Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah hoisted the national flag. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a Flag hoisting ceremony was also held at Police Lines in Dera Ismail Khan where Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur hoisted the national flag.

In Balochistan, a flag hoisting ceremony was held in Quetta where Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti along with Speaker Balochistan Assembly Abdul Khaliq Achakzai hoisted the National Flag. In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq hoisted the flag at a ceremony in Muzaffarabad.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, the main flag hoisting ceremony was held at Chinar Bagh Gilgit where provincial Home Minister Shamsul Haq Lone hoisted the national flag and laid a wreath of flowers at the monument of the martyrs of the freedom. It is pertinent to mention that the recent victory in the Maarka-e-Haq against India’s unprovoked aggression has amplified the nation’s fervor for this year’s celebrations of Independence Day.