Pakistanis are celebrating the 72nd Independence Day with traditional zeal and fervour, with commemorative ceremonies held in cities across the country. 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.The day began with a 31-gun salute in the capital, followed by 21-gun salutes in all four provincial capitals.Change-of-guard ceremony at Mazar-i-Quaid in Karachi.
The main ceremony was hosted at Islamabad’s Jinnah Convention Centre, where President Mamnoon Hussain hoisted the national flag. The ceremony was also attended by caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, the three chiefs of the armed forces and other notable personalities and foreign dignitaries. Flag hoisting ceremonies were held in the provincial capitals as well as district headquarters.
Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani attend the independence day ceremony. — PTV screengrab
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.
Pakistan Rangers officials at the Wagah border crossing exchanged sweets with Indian Border Security Force personnel. 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. Source:dawn.com
Monday, April 20, 2026
