Saad wants Aug 14 to be green and not red

• Saad unveils govt’s plan for Independence Day celebrations, urges political leaders, nation to unite for country’s sake

ISLAMABAD

APP

Federal Minister for Railways Saad Rafique on Thursday announced government’s month-long plan for celebrating 68th Independence Day of Pakistan in a befitting manner.

Addressing a press conference in the capital, the minister said that the government had decided to celebrate the Independence Day across the country by holding a range of ceremonies which will commence on August 1 with prayer leaders in mosques highlighting the struggle of nation’s forefathers for an independent country.

The minister said that the celebrations would continue during the entire month of August and all Pakistanis should hoist national flag on their houses’ rooftops and vehicles.

The railways minister said that the Pakistani nation was strong and its defence was impregnable. ”With celebrations, we will send a message of unity and solidarity to the internal and external enemies of Pakistan,” he said.

Rafique said that since independence, the nation had been facing several problems but had remained steadfast despite all odds. He said that all political leaders would be invited to the Independence Day celebrations while the government would also seek help of the civil society, NGOs, bars, professional organisations and religious leaders for maximum participation.

The minister said that on the eve of Independence Day, parade and fly past would be held while the day would dawn with special prayers for the progress and prosperity of the country. On the morning of August 14, traditional ceremony of Independence Day would be held, he added.

Moreover, the minister said that members of national and provincial assemblies would be asked to visit the graves of martyrs and go to the houses of their heirs. He said that special programmes would be also held for internally displaced persons (IDPs) to express solidarity with them.

Rafique said the federal government had directed chief ministers, chief secretaries, Azad Jammu and Kashmir prime minister, Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman to issue special instructions to “impressively” celebrate Independence Day events and express solidarity with armed forces of Pakistan.

Furthermore, he said that Pakistan Railways would run a special Azadi Train for the month of August. “The Azadi train will begin its journey from Peshawar on August 11 and after covering a distance of 4,000 kilometres will reach Karachi on September 11,” he said.

Also, sports competitions, including wrestling, cricket and kabbadi would be held at the district and tehsil levels in connection with Independence Day celebrations, he added.