ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Academy for Rural Development (PARD) celebrated the 71st Independence Day on Monday, by displaying delighted spirit, enthusiasm and resolving to safeguard the country against any threat.
PARD Director General (DG) Nighat Mehroze was the chief guest on the occasion. Wearing white and green dresses, the colours of the national flag, students along with their families and staff members of the academy, attended the function held at the academy’s main auditorium.
PARD DG formally hoisted the Pakistani flag, while the students and the parents present there, sang the national anthem in one voice. It was followed by speeches on national unity, faith and discipline by the talented students, who received applauses from the audience present at the jam-packed hall.
Amid the cheers of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ and clapping, at least 11 groups of students, of the academy’s school, sang ever-green national songs which included ‘Hum Zinda Qaum Hain, Dil Dil Pakistan, Yeh Watan Tumhara Hai and Jeevay Pakistan’, and others. To express love, some of the students had painted the national flag on their faces.
PARD DG said, “Pakistan, today, is far better because there was nothing when it came into being 70 years ago. Today’s Pakistan is a nuclear state, besides it has a prominent position in the international comity of nations.”
“Let’s end the prevailing sense of frustration in the society; the sense of disappointment is being propagated by those elements that are against Pakistan. They do it because they’re afraid of Pakistan’s prosperity and development,” said the DG.
Despite the internationally hatched conspiracies and problems at home, the country is excelling in many fields of life, she added.
“Pakistan is not weak; it has grown much stronger now. To safeguard the motherland, thousands of countrymen had sacrificed their lives, and the same spirit is still alive,” she said.
The DG urged the nation to follow Quaid-e-Azam’s principals of unity, faith and discipline. Congratulating the participants on the Independence Day, she said, “Let’s work together to put the country on the right track of growth and development.”
In the end, certificated were distributed among the participating students.