Rawalpindi:78th Independence Day was celebrated on Wednesday in Rawalpindi region with great enthusiasm and national zeal while tight security arrangements were finalized to avoid any untoward incident.
Rawalpindi District Administration, District Police, City Traffic Police, Punjab Emergency Service, Rescue 1122, Civil Defence and other departments concerned finalized best possible arrangements to celebrate the Independence Day in befitting manner.
The main Independence Day function was organized at Government Waqar-ul-Nisa Post Graduate College for Women.
Member National Assembly, Tahira Aurangzeb was chief guest at the event while Commissioner Rawalpindi Division, Engineer Aamir Khattak and Deputy Commissioner, Rawalpindi Hasan Waqar Cheema participated as special guests.
Member Provincial Assembly Punjab, Asma Abbasi, ADC Headquarters Zanira Aftab and other administrative officers also attended the ceremony.
MNA Tahira Aurangzeb along with the Commissioner hoisted the national flag.
Rawalpindi Devel
opment Authority (RDA) organized a program to celebrate 78th Independence Day with enthusiasm.
According to a RDA spokesman, on the directives of the Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Engineer, Muhammad Abdul Amir Khattak and Director General, RDA, Kinza Murtaza, the Buildings, Murree Road main walls, shops, plazas and markets along Murree Road and Airport Road were decorated with green flags, buntings and colorful lights.
The spokesman further informed that a special program was organized in RDA office in connection with Independence Day celebration on Tuesday and a ‘Bhangra’ dance performance was also arranged to celebrate Independence Day.
Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Rawalpindi and district administration organized a program and a flag-hoisting ceremony at Allama Iqbal Park.
Member National Assembly, Leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Tahira Aurangzeb, Commissioner Rawalpindi Division, Aamir Khattak, Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi, Hasan Waqar Cheema, DG, PHA Ahmed Ahsan Ranjha and other
administration officers participated in the event as special guests.
PHA Rawalpindi on Tuesday night organized a fireworks and cultural program to celebrate the Independence Day.
On the occasion, a spectacular fireworks show, live performance and cultural dance were organized at Liaquat Bagh.
The famous folk singers, Mash Baloch and Israr mesmerized the audiences with traditional folk dances and songs.
A large number of citizens attended the Independence Day program to celebrate the precious moments.
All the main buildings including Rawalpindi Railway Station, Rawalpindi and Chaklala Cantonment Board offices, Askari Plaza, Mall Road, Metro Track, Murree Road, RDA, WASA and PHA buildings, National Bank Saddar Main Branch, Bank Road, Mall Road and several other areas were beautifully decorated to mark the Independence Day.
The business community also actively took part in the Independence Day celebrations and decorated markets and roads.
The buildings were illuminated and a number of colourful activities
were also organized to mark this occasion with great enthusiasm.
Different public and private departments arranged special functions and activities including seminars, discussion programmes, photographic exhibitions, painting, poetry, national songs and debate competitions with the focus on acknowledging the contribution of leaders of Pakistan movement and sacrifices of national heroes.
Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) arranged exhibitions and other activities to mark Independence Day.
According to roadside vendors, the most enthusiastic were the children who were busy in collecting badges and also beautifying their bicycles with special stickers inscribed with messages of Independence Day.
A vendor, Altaf near Chandni Chowk said the demand for the national flag and badges was on the rise after Aug 10, adding that most of the motorists were buying flags to hoist on their vehicles.
Another seller in Liaquat Bagh area namely Majeed said that like every year, this year too the vendors at their stalls on footpa
ths done a roaring business.
The shopkeepers and footpath vendors had set up their temporary stalls in almost all areas of the town with the start of August where people were seen busy in buying things at cheaper rates.
A large number of stalls with buntings, flags, badges and other items were established in several city markets including Tench Bhatta, Lalkurti, Saddar, Moti, Raja and Urdu Bazaars, Benazir Bhutto Road, Bunni Market, Satellite Town, Sadiqabad and other areas of the city. Nowadays, national songs are in the air which gives the message that whole the nation is united.
Many food outlets had offered ‘Azadi’ deals with special discounts to attract food lovers while different boutiques and shops also offered a huge variety of ‘Azadi’ dresses.
According to a Rawalpindi district police spokesman, police finalized all the arrangements to beef up security on Jashan-e-Azadi while over 5300 cops were deployed under the security plan devised for Independence Day.
They were being supported by members o
f the Elite Force, Women Police officers and officials from the special branch. Special temporary pickets were also set up for snap checking and for cordoning off sensitive areas.
Police officers were also deputed on parks and entertainment spots in the city. There were enhanced patrolling from police officers, members of the elite force, Muhafiz Squads and Dolphin Force.
The police spokesperson said Elite Force, Muhafiz Force and Dolphin Force were patrolling the roads and streets while traffic officials were regulating traffic round the clock.
The spokesman informed that special security arrangements had also been finalized for Murree.
City Traffic Police (CTP) issued a traffic plan to facilitate commuters and the general public on Pakistan Independence Day.
According to Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Rawalpindi, Beenish Fatima, special pickets were erected in the city and on entry points of Murree to thwart one-wheeling on the eve of August 14 and strict action was being taken against one-wheelers.
The
spokesman said, 950 cops were deployed in Murree to handle the traffic load on August 14. Over 750 traffic officials were also on special duty while 57 special pickets were set up and seven special squads were formed up to control one wheeling in Rawalpindi.
Over 233 traffic wardens were on duty in Murree to regulate traffic on Independence Day.