FAISALABAD City News

Rallies, functions organised on I-Day in Faisalabad
From Our Correspondent
FAISALABAD: The Independence Day was celebrated with national zeal and enthusiasm across the Faisalabad Division on Friday.
The main function of flag hoisting was held at the Commissioner Office compound in which Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs and Human Rights Khalil Tahir Sindhu, parliamentarians Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Mian Muhammad Farooq, Mian Tahir Jameel, Faqeer Hussain Dogar, Madiha Rana, Dr Najma Afzal, Commissioner Nasim Nawaz, RPO Ehsan Tufail, DCO Noorul Amin Mengal, CPO Afzaal Ahmad Kausar, Pakistan Movement worker Haji Bashir Ahmad, officers and staff of different departments and a large number of citizens participated and hoisted the national flag. The national anthem was recited by the participants. Contingents of police, Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, Faisalabad Parking Company and scouts presented salute and march past while schoolchildren presented national songs. Speaking on the occasion, the minister congratulated to the nation on the Independence Day of Pakistan and said that Aug 14 was a day of commitment for renewing the pledge that we would contribute our struggle for making the Pakistan strong and prosperous. He urged the people to play their due role for the development of country and to promote national solidarity, love and fraternity. In the end, sweets were distributed among the participants. Meanwhile, different government and private schools and social organisations also arranged colourful events to celebrate the Independence Day. All bazaars were decorated with colourful buntings and all government and private buildings were illuminated. The similar flag hoisting ceremonies and other events were also held in the district and tehsils of the division. The Sports Department organised different sports competitions in connection with the I-Day while a competition of national song was also held under the arrangements of the Faisalabad Arts Council.

Sweets and fruits were distributed in the Allied and DHQ hospitals, Darul Amaan, SOS village, orphanage and other welfare institutions. Likewise, a Jashn-e-Azadi Jeep rally was also held which started from Iqbal Stadium and passed through different roads in which DCO Noorul Amin Mengal also participated. Former MNA Ch Sher Ali also led a rally took out on the I-Day, which started from T-Chowk and culminated at Civil Lines. The rally was also attended by MNAs Akram Ansari, Rana Muhammad Afzal, Ch Abid Sher Ali and Shafiq Gujjar. Later, a ceremony was also held at the dera of Khawaja Islam where a 68 pound cake was also cut to celebrate the I-Day. Punjab Minister Rana Sanaullah led another rally, which started from Chakki Wala Chowk Ghulam Muhammadabad while MPAs Sheikh Ejaz Ahmed, Malik Muhammad Nawaz, Shahid Mahmood Butt, Malik Taj Din and Mian Asghar also participated. Another rally was taken out by the Muslim Youth Organisation under the leadership of Hammad Jutt. The PTI workers also organised a rally, which was led by Nasir Mahmood. Activists of the Jamaatud Dawa also took out Nazria-e-Pakistan Rally. Meanwhile, the University of Agriculture Faisalabad also organised special programmes on the Independence Day to pay homage to the sacrifices of freedom fighters. The flag hoisting ceremony was administrated by UAF Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan at Iqbal Auditorium. The VC said that the day reminds us great sacrifices under unprecedented freedom movement led by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah that resulted in emergence of an independent Muslim state on the map of the world. It was now our duty to work dedicatedly for the progress of our homeland, he added. He said that the UAF had developed first time a comprehensive action plan ‘UAF Vision 2030’. He said that the USAID funded Centre for Advanced Studies (Food Security and Agriculture) had been set-up at the UAF campus. He said that the UAF had strengthened its outreach programme to transform the knowledge into goods and services.