The 68th national Independence Day dawned in the metropolis with 21-gun salute followed by special prayers, impressive flag hoisting and change of guards ceremonies at the Quaid’s mausoleum.
While the mausoleum remained the centre of attraction for people, public and private sectors arranged special programmes to commemorate the event.
Participants of the events paid glowing tributes to the leaders of independence movement and also recalled those unsung heroes, including men, women and children who lost their lives for the sake of their country.
Special ceremony was held at Karachi University during which Vice Chancellor Dr Mohammad Qaiser cut a special cake and urged the people of the country to make concerted efforts for elimination of corruption from the country.
Chancellor of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology Engr Mohammad Adil Usman addressed the Independence Day celebrations and said: “It is true that in an independent state people are free to choose their actions but not the consequences”. He reiterated that an educated person was more careful in taking stock of possible reaction of his or her action. “Nation demands freedom and freedom demands responsibility,” said the SSUET VC mentioning that freedom is the will to be responsible to ourselves.
On the occasion, he underscored the need to translate Quaid-e-Azam’s motto of unity, faith and discipline into reality.
Students of the university who attended the flag-hoisting ceremony raised Pakistan Zindabad slogans and waved national flag. They were also joined by Aligarians making the ceremony all the more exciting. Students enthralled the guests with national and motivational songs.
Noted Naat Khawan Mahmoodul Hasan Ashrafi prayed for the progress, stability, solidarity and prosperity of the country. Prof Dr Mohammad Afzal Haq, Vice Chancellor NED University of Engineering and Technology, hoisted national flag in an impressive ceremony attended in large numbers by the university students and registrar, faculty members and administrative staff of the university.
The NED University of Engineering and Technology is already in process of celebrating independence 2014 week with series of events arranged for the students.
The events included sports-related competitions, quiz contests and so-forth. Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal, Vice Chancellor of Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, in a ceremony to mark the occasion said that citizens needed to realise their responsibility towards the country. He urged the students to develop a culture of self-accountability and make efforts in their individual capacity to promote merit as the criterion for progress and development.
