Rejuvenation of a nation

Pakistan Day

Imagine men in streets, men of letters and men at the helm of affairs, all commemorating Pakistan Day indeed. It was an historic day when Pakistan Resolution was passed on March 23, 1940 in Lahore to carve out the plan to turn the dream- envisaged by Iqbal- into reality. From Karachi to Khyber, it was simply the rejuvenation of a nation on the occasion of Pakistan Day 2017. Youth sang and celebrated their hearts out for Pakistan in the bustling lanes, streets, roads, thoroughfares and highways and in the youth-packed Kharadar and Meethadar of Karachi, Chaburjee and Anarkali of Lahore, Kalibari and Chowk Yaadgar of Peshawar, thronging Jinnah Road of Quetta and so on. At best was the young nation singing, chanting and dancing amid the echoes of such patriotic and pulsating songs like “Hum Zinda Qaum Hain”, “Dill Dil Pakistan”, “Is Parcham Kay Saye Tale” and others, in schools, colleges and universities of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA.

Some exhilarating models of Pakistan Day commemoration 2017 included the Inter-Services Public Relations’ (ISPR) new inspiring anthem highlighting the significance of Pakistan Day. The armed forces began this day in a befitting manner with 32 gun salute in the federal capital and 21 gun salute in the provincial capitals. Participating in the Pakistan Day Parade 2017 were special troops from Saudi Arabia, China and the Turkish Janissary military band.

Print and electronic media presented special programs, including the messages of the president and the prime minister, news on Pakistan Day Parade, special features, dramas, documentaries, reports and national songs. The Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) organized a ‘Pakistan Culture Week’ on this occasion.  Programs were arranged by the Ministry of Information, including music shows comprising Sufi, pop songs, traditional and folk music of the four provinces.

At an investiture ceremony on Pakistan Day, national awards such as Hilal-I-Shuja’at, Hilal-I-Imtiaz, Sitara-I-Pakistan, Sitara-I-Shuja’at, Sitara-I-Imtiaz, President’s Award For Pride of Performance, Sitara-I-Khidmat, Tamgha-I-Pakistan, Tamgha-I-Shuja’at (Posthumous), Tamgha-I-Shuja’at, Tamgha-I-Imtiaz, Tamgha-I-Khidmat were conferred. However, many unsung patriots commemorated Pakistan Day singing and toiling in the slums, streets and countryside of Pakistan, including dragging old cart-pushers in the tight lanes of Hyderabad, laboring adolescent car-cleaners at Jinnah Super Market, Islamabad; sweating little monkey and snake charmers in Lee Market, Karachi; walking tea and ‘Qahva’ vendors in traditional and downtown Quetta, loading round-the-clock ‘Qulis’ at the bustling railway junction, Lahore; labor hunting laborers of Chowk Yadgar and Qissa Khawani,  Peshawar; carving, printing and engraving folks of the cottage industry, walking long for livelihood home maids or ‘masis’ of the nation.

Commemorating Pakistan Day at an ‘International Mushaira’ in Karachi were leading poets with their invigorating and patriotic poetry. Karachi witnessed a pulsating ‘Mushaira’ on the eve of Pakistan Day when IoBM’s Literary Public Speaking Society (LPSS) organized a poetic feast “Bazm-E-Shair O Adab”. It was inspiring to see young nation depicting love for Urdu, our national language, pledging to hold Mushairas in regional Pakistani languages too. Also, amid the vibes of Pakistan Day, the CBM Society of Health Managers (CSHM) organized a CSR activity to celebrate the World Water Day with the students of AGHAAZ SCHOOL. Pakistan Day was commemorated at IoBM by the Society of Welfare and Trust (SWAT) by decorating the campus with Pakistan’s flags and buntings as national songs kept the environment alert, alive and pulsating with patriotism. Planned were the screening of documentaries on Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal and others who worked exemplarily in the struggle for Pakistan. SWAT members celebrated Pakistan Day and Sports Day with the less-privileged children of Ibrahim Hydri. Also held were sports contests, patriotic speeches and Physical Education (PE) display sessions by SWAT members.

Pakistan Day was commemorated with vim, vigor and vitality; charm, color and charisma; lighting, illumination and enlightenment emanating from private homes to public places. Rejuvenating sights reflected at places of monumental and historic significance such as Mazar-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Karachi; Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore; Civil Secretariat, Quetta; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly building, Peshawar and Parliament House, Islamabad. Young and old, men and women, the rich and the poor, all were enthralled and entertained with food, fun and frolic at such public places in Pakistan such as clifton beach, Karachi; Lab-e-Mehran, Sukkur, Jinnah Water Park, Multan; Shalimar Gardens, Lahore; Ayub National Park, Rawalpindi; Shakarparian, Islamabad; Company Bagh, Peshawar; Marghuzar, Swat and so on. It was indeed like all Pakistani hearts, minds and souls sang the songs of Pakistan both in letter and spirit.