Pakistan celebrates 72nd Independence Day: Prime minister-in-waiting Imran Khan says reason to be optimistic despite economic crises

People all across Pakistan on Tuesday celebrated the country’s 72nd Independence Day with traditional zeal and fervour. As the clock struck midnight, fireworks began across the county while buildings were lit up to celebrate Independence Day. Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan said he was “optimistic” despite the economic crises the country has faced, due to “corruption and cronyism”. He said a united resolve would pave the way for Pakistan to become a “great nation”.

The day-long festivities began with thanksgiving prayers and the hoisting of the national flag at all the important public buildings in the country, which had been decorated with bunting and lights ahead of 14 August, Dawn reported online. The day began with a 31-gun salute in the capital, followed by 21-gun salutes in all four provincial capitals. Pakistan Rangers officials at the Wagah border crossing exchanged sweets with Indian Border Security Force personnel. [caption id=“attachment_4962421” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Guards exchange sweets at Attari-Wagah border on Pakistan’s Independence day. ANI[/caption] The main ceremony was hosted at the Islamabad’s Convention Centre, where President Mamnoon Hussain hoisted the national flag. Hussain and caretaker prime minister Justice (retd) Nasir-ul-Mulk addressed the people and asked them to take the country forward. “The dream of taking the country to the zenith would not come true unless we singularly concentrate on our national goals and objectives,” Geo News reported Mamnoon as saying. The president expressed his elation over the country’s new generation, which he said, was brimming with patriotism and passion for progress and development. Nasir-ul-Mulk, in his address, said that 14 August reminded him of the struggle for a separate homeland for Muslims, Geo News reported. “An an unswerving commitment to Quaid’s ideals and his principle of ‘Unity, Faith and Discipline’ would help us overcome our present-day challenges and make Pakistan a self-reliant, economically vibrant and a prosperous country,” he said as per the Geo News report. Change-of-guard ceremonies were also held at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal in Karachi and Lahore, respectively. People across the country flocked to stalls that lined up streets to purchase national flags in different sizes, t-shirts, badges and other merchandise to display their national pride. With inputs from ANI