- Thursday, February 27, 2025
The president thanked Pakistan’s friends in the world fraternity and expressed confidence that the country could become a developed one in a few years.
By: Shubham Ghosh
PAKISTANI president Arif Alvi on Monday (14) appealed to the country’s political leaders to rise above differences and antagonism as the country, which is facing a deep economic turmoil, celebrated its 77th Independence Day.
Addressing a flag-hoisting ceremony held at the Convention Centre in national capital Islamabad, he expressed gratitude to countries that are friendly to Pakistan, including China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iran and Turkey, who extended help at the time of its economic woes.
Alvi also expressed confidence that Pakistan could become a developed country in a few years.
Asking politicians and other stakeholders to embrace the path of forgiveness, Alvi said, “My demand to the leaders of this country is to be united.”
The president said it was important to break free from nepotism, promote meritocracy and ensure comprehensive justice, particularly in the socio-economic sphere, in order to progress.
He regretted that 27 million children in Pakistan are out of school and asked the rich of the country to come forward and make arrangements for their education.
He also highlighted the greater participation of women in economic activities.
Talking about terrorism, he said that about 100,000 people were killed in the fight against the menace and assured that Pakistan was committed to the fight against terrorism.
Separately, in his special message, Alvi urged citizens to work for the welfare and uplift of deprived sections of the society. The president also reiterated the need for national unity to surmount social, political, economic and security challenges.
In his Independence Day message, outgoing prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said that while the country had defeated many odds and achieved milestones, the “story of Pakistan has yet to reach its culmination”.
Chief of army staff General Asim Munir paid tribute to the nation’s founding fathers and stressed that the country knew how to defend its hard-earned freedom.
In his address at the Azadi Parade held at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province late on Sunday (13), the army chief said the nation had “maintained this tradition of celebrating freedom, equality and the quest for happiness, which we must continue to cherish”.
Acknowledging the myriad of challenges faced by the nation, from geopolitical wrangling to internal threats, Gen Munir said, “Let me caution them all, in the words of our great Quaid, ‘There is no power on earth which can undo Pakistan’,” asserting that the army stood ready to defend the country’s sovereignty at all costs. Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan also issued a pre-recorded message on the Independence Day, urging countrymen to exert themselves towards the advancement of Pakistan.
This objective, he said, will be achieved only when the country gets independence in its true sense and there is establishment of equality among all individuals in the eyes of the law.
According to a Radio Pakistan report, Independence Day dawned with a 31-gun salute at the federal capital Islamabad and a 21-gun salute at the provincial capitals. Special prayers were offered in mosques for peace, solidarity and prosperity of the country.
A one-minute silence was observed throughout the country with the sound of sirens to herald the flag hoisting ceremony at nine in the morning. Change of guard ceremonies were also held at Mazar-i-Quaid in Karachi and Mazar-i-Iqbal in Lahore.
Pakistan was also celebrating its Independence Day at a time when its former prime minister Imran Khan, one of the most prominent faces of the country, was behind bars in connection to a corruption case. He has also been barred from politics for five years, a decision taken by the country’s election body just months before Pakistan goes to its next national election.
Pakistan got separated from India in August 1947 with the latter celebrating its Independence Day on August 15.
(With PTI inputs)
