ISLAMABAD
The nation celebrated Pakistan Day on Sunday with renewed pledge to make the country a modern democratic Islamic welfare state as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The day dawned with 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salute in provincial capitals. Special prayers were held in mosques after Fajr prayers for the progress, prosperity and solidarity of the country.
The main ceremony was held at the Presidency where President Mamnoon Hussain and PM Nawaz Sharif hoisted the national flag.
A smartly turned-out contingent of the Pakistan Armed Forces presented the guard of honour. The president inspected the guard of honour.
A fleet of fighter jets, including F-16, JF-17 Thunder, Karakoram-8 Trainer Jets of the PAF and helicopters of Pakistan Army presented the fly-past.
The ceremony was attended by Senate Chairman Nayyer Hussain Bukhari, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, members of the federal cabinet, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Rashad Mehmood, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, PAF Chief Tahir Rafique Butt, Naval Chief Asif Sandila, members of diplomatic corps and senior civil and military officials.
Various political, social and religious organisations arranged functions to highlight the importance of Pakistan Resolution that paved the way for the creation of an independent homeland for Muslims of the Subcontinent.
A change of guard ceremony was held at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi.
Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah visited the mausoleum to pay tributes to the founder of the nation.
On the other hand, an impressive ceremony of change of guards was also held at the mausoleum of national poet Dr Allama Muhmmad Iqbal in Lahore.
The national flags were hoisted on important public and private buildings across the country and all Pakistani missions abroad.
Seminars, poetry recitation events, photography exhibitions and documents relating to the Pakistan Movement, qirat contests, debates and essay competitions were also organised across the country. Sweets and gifts were distributed at orphanages and darul amans and special meals were served to prisoners.
The day was also celebrated in Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
Pakistani embassies organised special functions to mark the day. The embassies include those in Beijing, New Delhi, Teheran, Colombo, Hong Kong, Kabul, Washington, London, Berlin, Abu Dhabi, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Tokyo and Ankara.
