Preparations for Independence Day celebrations in full swing

Rawalpindi

Preparations for the 69th Independence Day are in full swing here in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad as the day is approaching fast while national flags are selling like a hot cake. All government and private departments are busy to finalize special programs regarding to Independence Day in this regard.

Pakistan Horticulture Authority (PHA) has arranged special festival from August 10 till August 14. The department will present flower show, tableaus, dramas, speeches etc during five days from August 10 to August 14. 

A colourful flag hoisting ceremony will be held here at the Commissioner’s Office on 14th August in which Commissioner (Rawalpindi) Azmat Mehmood, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Talat Gondal, PML-N (MNAs and MPAs) participate on the occasion. A large number of school students (boys and girls) will present national anthem, national songs and speeches. The local management will distribute prizes among students on Independence Day.

The city district government, Rawalpindi along with people belonging to various walks of life are busy in decorating their houses with national flags and the buildings, city shopping centres, bazaars and all the main roads are also being adorned with flags and fancy lights.

Decorative items are in high demand these days including national flags, multi-coloured garlands, badges, ‘Minar-e-Pakistan’ models and portraits of the Quaid-e-Azam and national heroes, said Muhammad Akram, a shopkeeper at market in Rawalpindi.

Children are anxiously waiting for 14th August as they are in first row to buy national flags. Public complains that prices of flags, pictures of national heroes and other stuff like badges are out of reach of a common man, however some will buy and some will pray that prices go down.

The most enthusiastic are children who are busy collecting stickers, badges and also beautifying their bicycles with special stickers inscribed with messages of Independence Day.

Executive District Officer (Education) Qazi Zahoor-ul-Haq said that all government schools will arrange special programmes on Independence Day. The schools will arrange dramas, tableau, speech contests and poetry competitions on the occasion.

The businessmen are busy in making national flags, buntings, pictures of national heroes, and stickers here at Raja Bazaar, Babra Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar, Purana Qila, Ganjmandi, Gawalmandi, Choor, Allahabad, Misriyal, Tench, Asghar Mall, Banni etc. “We are busy round the clock to prepare items regarding to Independence Day ,” Akhtar Mehmood a businessman said.

The businesses of these items at all big stores as well as by roadside vendors remain on peak which shows the zeal of people belonging to all ages, a shopkeeper remarked.