Karachi: A special session and a dignified flag-hoisting ceremony were held at the Provincial Assembly of Sindh to mark the 80th Independence Day of Pakistan.
The ceremony was presided over by Speaker of Provincial Assembly of Sindh Syed Awais Qadir Shah, who hoisted the national flag and joined the members in offering special prayers for the safety, progress and prosperity of Pakistan.
On the occasion, a Guard of Honour was presented by the Sindh Police Special Guards and Band.
The Governor of Sindh Syed Nehal Hashmi, Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed, Minister of State for Religious Affairs Kheal Das Kohistani and Members of the Provincial Assembly including women and minority members attended the ceremony.
The proceedings commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran, the national anthem and prayers. The Speaker congratulated the nation on the 79th Independence Day of Pakistan.
Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Jameel Ahmed Soomro moved a resolution commemorating Pakistan’s 80th Independence Day and also addressed the House in support of the resolution.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Sindh Dr. Sham Sunder Advani, MPAs including Heer Soho, Muhammad Rashid Khan, Makhdoom Fakhar Zaman, Sabir Hussain Qaimkhani, Muhammad Asif Khan, Khurram Karim Soomro, Dr Fozia Hameed, Sadia Javed and Muhammad Farooq, among other Members of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, also expressed their views on 80th Independence Day.
Young parliamentarians from the Children and Adolescents Parliament subsequently delivered speeches. These young parliamentarians are part of the Children and Adolescents Parliament, an initiative of the Thar Education Alliance, supported by UNICEF and the Reform Support Unit, which provides young people with opportunities to engage in parliamentary processes, democratic values and freedom of expression.
The speakers included Summaiya Adnan, Chief Minister of the Children and Adolescents Parliament; Zainab Khan Sammo, Leader of the Opposition; Aliza Owais, former Minister for Data-Driven Advocacy; Muskan Mallah, former Speaker of the Sindh Children and Adolescents Parliament; and Loveet Kumar, former Member of the Children and Adolescents Parliament.
Following the speeches, participants held the national flag and raised enthusiastic slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad.’
The concluding remarks were delivered by MPAs including Saima Agha, Hallar Wassan, Muhammad Shabbir Qureshi and Imdad Ali Patafi, who also appreciated the Speaker’s initiative in providing youth and students with an opportunity to express their views on the occasion of Independence Day.
The special session reflected the values of inclusion and national unity and served as a practical expression of the vision of the founder of Pakistan.
The Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah also cut the Independence Day cake along with members and young guests.
