HYDERABAD: National flags were unfurled, programmes held and rallies taken out in almost all parts of Sindh on the occasion of 77th Independence Day on Wednesday.

In Hyderabad, the official programme was held in the Circuit House secretariat where Mayor Kashif Shoro, Commissioner Bilal Memon, Deputy Commissioner Zainul Abideen Memon and DIG Tariq Dharejo hoisted national flag and later cut a cake.

Similar events were held in Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) Jamshoro, and Sindh University and its campuses of Thatta and Naushahro Feroze.

Dr. N.A. Baloch Model School and Federal Government Public School No-1 (boys) held different programmes for students to highlight the importance of independence.

Hyderabad Divisional Commissioner Bilal Memon performed flag hoisting to the tune of national anthem.

Tando Mohammad Khan Deputy Commissioner Dharamu Bhawani also participated in an official event.

In Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts, rallies were taken out with national fervor. The key event was held at the Municipal Stadium Larkana where PPP MPA Jamil Soomro, Larkana Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Phull, DC Dr Shareej Noor Channa and others jointly hoisted a Pakistani flag. National anthem was also played.

The participants saluted the national. The stadium was decorated with Pakistani flags, banners, buntings and balloons. Children staged different programmes representing different colours of love and brotherhood amidst slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’.

Programmes were also held at Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University at Arija, Larkana Press Club, Jamia Islamia Ishatul Quran whereas NGOs and schools separately organised events to celebrate the day. A function was held at the Mohenjodaro site.

In Nawabshah, the main ceremony was held in DC office where Commissioner Syed Sajjad Haider, Deputy Commissioner Shaharyar Gul Memon, DIG Pervez Ahmed Chandio and others hoisted the national flag.

A programme was also organised where students delivered speeches and performed tableaux.

Flag hoisting ceremonies were also held at Nawabshah Press Club, Municipal Corporation and town offices.

In Sanghar, the deputy commissioner, SSP and other officials hoisted the national flag in a ceremony.

In Naushahro Feroze, Deputy Commissioner Arsalan Saleem, SSP Saddam Hussain and others hoisted the national flag at a ceremony at a public park.

Unfurling of the national flag was performed in Sukkur, Khairpur, Jacobabad, Ghotki, Kandhkot-Kashmore and Shikarpur districts.

Sukkur Deputy Commissioner Dr. MB Raja Dharejo and City Mayor Mr Arslan Islam Shaikh and other dignitaries participated in the ceremony.

In Jacobabad, a flag hoisting ceremony was held at the DC office.

Jacobabad Deputy Commissioner Zahoor Ali Mari, SSP Syed Muhammad Saleem Shah and other government officials and public representatives inaugurated the ceremony by unfurling the national flag.

At the end of the ceremony, the DC and SSP of Jacobabad inaugurated a ‘tree planting campaign’.

In Khairpur, Deputy Commissioner Syed Ahmed Fawad Shah, AC Arslan Haider Phulpoto, DSP Abdullah and others hoisted the national flag.

District heads of all government departments, dignitaries, stakeholders, businessmen, lawyers, social leaders and students of more than 10 schools and colleges participated in the event.

In Dadu, the main function of flag hoisting was organised at the DC office. Different officials and dignitaries witnessed the event where a cake was also cut and special prayers were offered for the development and prosperity of the country. Trees were also planted on the occasion.

Events were also held in Umerkot district with enthusiasm.

In Badin, the main flag hosting ceremony was held at Gymkhana in the lead of Deputy Commissioner Yasir Bhatti.

The day began with the prayers of prosperity of the country. The Hindus offered special prayers for the beloved country in their temples. Programmes were also held in government and private schools.

In Umerkot, thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf supporters came on roads holding national and PTI flags, on the call of their jailed leader / founder PTI chairman, Imran Khan.

In Mithi, thousands of people from various parts of the region thronged various picnic spots of the desert district of Tharparkar.

Reports from Mithi, Islamkot, Nagarparkar and other towns said that all guest houses and hotels were already booked by visitors, and those families, who could not get bookings of the guest houses and restaurants, were seen cooking for themselves under the shadow of trees along the roads leading to various points.

In the districts of Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Tando Allahyar etc., as well as at the taluka levels, the day was celebrated with national fervor. Hundreds of cakes were cut and national flags hoisted by concerned government officers and representatives of civil society and social organisations.

The main ceremony was held in the deputy commissioner’s Mirpurkhas complex where the national flag was hoisted while school children presented different programmes along with national anthem and songs.

On behalf of different organisations, rallies were taken out in the city in which people were seen riding bikes, cars, rickshaws etc.

Similar rallies and ceremonies were held in Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Jhuddo, Tando Jan Muhammad, Naokot, Kot Ghulam Muhammad, Jhilori, Sindhri etc.

However, no any untoward incident was reported till filing of the news.

The historic city of Thatta celebrated the Pakistan’s 77th Independence Day with great enthusiasm.

The day began with a grand flag-hoisting ceremony at the Makli Police Line, followed by a parade and musical performances.

Residents from all walks of life participated in the festivities, waving flags and chanting patriotic slogans.

Local leaders and officials, including Thatta Deputy Commissioner Ghulam Abbas Soomro and SSP Dr Imran addressed the gatherings, highlighting the significance of the independence and struggle of the nation’s founders.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2024