Islamabad/Aug, 14: Pak woke up midnight Monday night to celebrate country’s 72nd Independence day with greater zeal and fervour. People a cross Pakistan Monday night the time clock turned 12 hours, fired crackers in enthusiasm and shouted pro freedom slogans.
The day-long festivities began with thanksgiving prayers and the hoisting of the national flag at all important public buildings in the country, which had been decorated with bunting and lights ahead of August 14, reports Dawn 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.
The main ceremony will be hosted at the Islamabad’s Convention Centre, where President Mamnoon Hussain is expected to hoist the national flag. Caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, the three chiefs of the armed forces and other notable personalities will be in attendance.
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.
