Nation celebrates Diamond Jubilee, the 75th Independence Day of the motherland today with a renewed pledge to work with the spirit of Pakistan Movement to make the country a true Islamic welfare state.

The day dawned with thirty-one gun salute in the Federal Capital and twenty-one gun salute in the provincial headquarters.

Prayers were offered for security and progress of Pakistan and well-being of the people.

National flag has been hoisting at all important public and private buildings.

Public and private buildings as well as streets, bazaars and markets have been profusely illuminated.

National flags, buntings, portraits of founding fathers, posters and banners are also seen everywhere as part of the celebration of Independence Day.

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi hoisted the national flag at Lahore fort.

Addressing the ceremony, he paid glowing tributes to the leaders of Pakistan Movement. The Chief Minister also laid a floral wreath at the Mazar-i- Iqbal and offered fateha.

The change of guards ceremony was held at Mazaar-e-Quaid in Karachi this morning. The cadets of Pakistan Naval Academy assumed the guards duties.

In Quetta, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo hoisted the national flag in the lawn of provincial assembly.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the 75th Independence Day of Pakistan is being celebrated with national enthusiasm and fervor on Sunday.

The day dawned with 21 gun salutes in the state capital Muzaffarabad.

Special prayers were offered after Fajar Prayer for peace, solidarity and prosperity of Pakistan. The main flag hoisting ceremony was held at President House in Muzaffarabad where AJK President Barrister Sultan Mehmood Ch and Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas hoisted the national flag. Addressing the ceremony, the AJK president said time is not too far when the oppressed people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir would be freed from Indian clutches and people from both sides of Line of Control would celebrate Independence Day together.

In Mirpur, a flag hoisting ceremony was held to mark the Independence Day of Pakistan with a renewal of the pledge to continue the ongoing struggle for the right of self-determination and accession to Pakistan.

The Divisional Commissioner and other high ranking officers along with important personalities attended the ceremony.

A smartly turned out contingent of AJK Police presented guard of honor on the occasion while the national anthems of Pakistan and AJK were also played.

Meanwhile, Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television are highlighting the services of Pakistan Movement heroes' on the day and pay tributes to their extra ordinary contributions for making Pakistan a reality.

Source: Radio Pakistan

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