Abbottabad: A ceremony to mark Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day was held at the Jalal Baba Auditorium in Abbottabad, with Commissioner Hazara Division Shahidullah Khan as the chief guest.
MPA Rajab Ali Abbasi and Commissioner Hazara Division Shahidullah Khan jointly hoisted the national flag, while a smartly turned-out police contingent presented a salute. DIG Hazara Nasir Mahmood Satti, Director General GDA Muhammad Fawad, Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad, DPO Abbottabad, heads of various government departments, citizens, students and teachers attended the ceremony.
Students delivered enthusiastic speeches and presented national songs, Kalam-e-Iqbal and tableaux, expressing their love for Pakistan. Their performances were warmly appreciated by the audience.
Addressing the gathering, Commissioner Hazara Shahidullah Khan said Independence Day was an occasion to renew the commitment to serve the country with dedication. He paid tribute to the sacrifices made by the founders and elders of Pakistan and said it was now the responsibility of the present generation to uphold the country’s dignity among the nations of the world.
He said Pakistan had overcome numerous challenges despite predictions at the time of independence that the country would not survive for long. He added that the nation had proved that Pakistan would continue to stand strong.
The Commissioner said Pakistan possessed abundant natural resources and expressed confidence that through unity, hard work and steadfastness, the country could achieve greater progress and prosperity.
He announced a cash prize of Rs10,000 each for the children who performed during the ceremony.
DIG Hazara Nasir Mahmood Satti said freedom was a great blessing and it was the responsibility of everyone to value and protect it. He said slavery deprived people of personal as well as religious freedoms, while Pakistan provided its citizens, including minorities, the freedom to practise their religious beliefs.
He emphasized that Pakistan belonged to all its citizens and urged students to focus on their education so that the country’s future could be entrusted to capable hands.
The ceremony concluded with the distribution of shields and certificates among the participating students.
Later, Commissioner Hazara Shahidullah Khan visited Abbottabad Park at Shimla Hill, where he planted a sapling to launch the Independence Day Mega Plantation Campaign.
He also distributed saplings among schoolchildren and encouraged them to contribute to efforts aimed at promoting a greener and healthier environment.
