Pledge for Prosperity: Pakistan celebrates 58th Independence Day today
By Aziz Malik - Pakistan Times Federal Bureau Chief

ISLAMABAD: Magnificent celebrations of the 58th Independence Day began in full swing—in a befitting manner—all-over Pakistan today, Sunday with a greater pledge by the nation to make the marvellous homeland still more strong and affluent—by all perceptions, free from all types of alien dependence in any mode or style.

The day dawned with 31 gun salute in the federal capital and 21 gun salute in the provincial capitals. Special prayers were offered for the progress and prosperity of the country at ‘Fajr’ prayers.

The cadets of Pakistan Naval Academy (PNA) are to take over the guards duty at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Governor Sindh, Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan, and Chief Minister, Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim hoisted national flag at the Mazar of Quaid-i- Azam at 8 a.m.

Later, they placed floral wreaths and offered Fateha along with the members of the provincial cabinet. The representatives of three armed forces also placed floral wreaths and offer Fateha at the mazar.

People from various walks of life are visiting the mausoleum of the Father of the Nation to pay homage to the founder of Pakistan. A large number of programmes have been chalked out by various organizations to mark the Independence Day in a befitting manner, all-over Pakistan.

National flag is flying atop the government and private buildings. People have tastefully decorated their homes and offices with national flags and buntings.

And an official of the ISPR said that prayers were held in all the Unit mosques at Fajr for the solidarity and prosperity of the country. The armed forces headquarters joined the nation in the flag hoisting ceremony, where message of President of Pakistan and Chief of the Army Staff were read out tomark the magnificent event.

All important buildings including Corps Headquarter, Station headquarters, Log Area Headquarter have been tastefully decorated and illuminated.

The ships and Units of Pakistan Navy were dressed overall and will be illuminated tonight. The Commanding Officers of ships and Units addressed their officers and men on the significance of the Day.

The ships have been tastefully decorated on this auspicious occasion. Bara Khana and sports events would also be arranged on the Independence Day.

Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan and other news channels will air special programmes on the importance of the Day. Newspapers, including Pakistan's first independent daily E-Newspaper 'PakistanTimes.net' have published special supplements of the Independence Day.

The Quaid's Mausoleum

The mausoleum of the Father of the Nation in Karachi is the main attraction of the Independence Day festivities where a large number of people are paying inmost homage to the Founder of Pakistan.

The academic institutions in the metropolis have chalked out special programmes to hold flag hoisting. A number of academic, cultural and sports programmes would also be organized to mark the occasion.

Message of the President

President Pervez Musharraf, early on Sunday morning congratulated the nation on Pakistan’s 58th independence day.

He said Pakistan today has strategic direction in all spheres of governance and called upon the nation to join hands in defeating obscurantism existing on fringes of society and strive for making Pakistan a progressive democratic Islamic welfare state.

Greeting the nation, the President also reaffirmed the Government's resolve to providing basic health and education facilities to people by 2007 on the back of strong economic growth achieved in the last six years, which have been watershed in the history of the country.

"It is my proud privilege to greet all Pakistanis, my brothers and sisters living in Pakistan and abroad on the auspicious occasion of our 58th Independence Day," he said in his message.

He asked people to have pride in themselves as Pakistanis and come forward with their due role in addressing obscurantism.

"On his occasion, I appeal to every Pakistani to come forward and join hands to defeat the forces of obscurantism and negativism, which exist on the fringes of society. Have pride in yourselves as Pakistanis. The country needs you to stand up and be counted," he said.

President Musharraf urged people to pledge anew to adhere to the "guiding principles of Unity, Faith and Discipline and strive for making Pakistan a truly modern, dynamic, progressive and democratic Islamic welfare state in accordance with the aspirations of the Muslims of South Asia and ideals of the founders of the nation."

Pakistan, he said, came into being as a result of a long and arduous struggle by the Muslims of South Asia under the dynamic and unmatched leadership of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The guiding principles in this struggle were unswerving faith in Allah, discipline in our ranks and unity in the face of adversity, he recalled.

"Our beloved country has, indeed, come a long way since emerging as a fledgling state on the map of the world on 14th August 1947. Allah Almighty has blessed Pakistan with His bounties. We have an abundance of natural resources. Our land is home to rivers, mountains, deserts and fertile plains. The people of Pakistan are intelligent, dynamic and hardworking. We have also taken tremendous strides in the fields of agriculture, industrial growth, science and technology."

While today is undoubtedly an occasion of rejoicing, it is also a day for introspection, he said and added that the nation needs to take stock of how far "have we as a nation been successful. "A major reason that we had yet to realize our tremendous potential stemmed from a lack of strategic direction in the past."

Alhamdolillah, the last six years have been a watershed in the history of our country, he noted. "A strategic direction was given in almost every sphere of governance of the country, the results of which are clearly visible on ground for all to see. "Pakistan's economy has emerged from a near stage of insolvency in 1999 as one of the most vibrant economies of Asia.

Reforms initiated in every major field of endeavour have yielded dividends, and as a result of prudent policies Pakistan's stature in both the Ummah and the comity of nations has risen significantly.

Pakistan Model

Today, the 'Pakistan Model' is being used as a reference point by international development organizations."

President Musharraf said Pakistan has been put on the path of sustainable democracy. "We have carried out empowerment of the people at the grass roots level; representation of women at all tiers of governance has been ensured: rights of the minorities have not only been protected. But through electoral reforms, they have been brought into the mainstream of national life."

The main focus of the government now is to accelerate the transfer of economic benefits to the people, he declared.

"We are firmly committed to providing better health and education facilities to every citizen and a comprehensive plan for the supply of safe drinking water and electricity to every household in Pakistan by year 2007 is under implementation."

Urges nation to reject retrogressive Elements

And while addressing a grand cultural programme at the Aiwan-e-Sadr as part of Independence Day celebrations shortly after Saturday midnight, marking the the Independence Day, the President said Pakistan is coming out of difficulties it faced until recent past and urged the nation to reject retrogressive elements politically and socially to enable the country scale new heights of development befitting its immense potential.

"We have given a strategic direction to the country, which had been pushed into a state of rudderless ship by 1999 - but now the country is moving towards its clearly defined goal of development and prosperity," he declared,

At the event which was also attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the President said Pakistan traversed through a storm in the last few years but now the clouds are disappearing and giving way to a bright future.

"With the blessings of Allah Almighty and the hard work and dedication of people, we shall move towards a resplendent future.

"All the mega projects launched in the last crucial six years are nearing completion and today Pakistan is being hailed as an example of economic turnaround," he said contrasting the plight of the country in 1999 with its far-improved economic health and elevated international stature.

However, the President said the nation should reject elements who want to drag Pakistan into darkness. "I appeal to the nation to reject the retrogressive elements politically and socially as they are opposed to progress," he said.

The President said the Government is striving for improving Pakistan's image and would encourage the projection of its rich culture.

Series of Projects

In this context, he recounted a series of projects launched including the establishment of National Academy of Performing Arts, the opening of National College of Arts campus in Rawalpindi, the forthcoming Pakistan National Council of the Arts, a monument projecting Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal’s vision and the inauguration of Bab-e-Pakistan in Lahore today, Sunday and said these would be vitally helpful in projecting a soft image of the country.

He said Pakistan was a dream to which Quaid-e-Azam gave realization. Pakistan was now on the way to progress and development with a smooth and swift pace, he remarked.

Prime Minister's Message

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has urged the people to renew their pledge on independence day to do every thing possible to achieve the objectives of independence.

In his message on the occasion of 58th independence day being celebrated on Sunday, the Prime Minister said every one should resolve to learn from past mistakes and work ceaselessly to build the homeland worthy of the ideals for which it was created.

The Prime Minister conveyed his heartiest felicitations to all the fellow citizens living in Pakistan and abroad on this auspicious occasion of the independence day of Pakistan.

He said 58 years ago, under the able leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Muslims of the subcontinent won a separate homeland after innumerable hardships and sacrifices.

The Prime Minister said on this day, "We express our gratitude to Almighty Allah who blessed us with a separate homeland and pay homage to the Quaid-e-Azam, who led us to our destiny."

Shaukat Aziz said, "We also recall, with thanks and appreciation, those countless individuals, known and unknown, who laid their lives in the struggle for Pakistan."

"On this day, I would also urge my countrymen to pause and think whether we have, both individually and collectively, done everything possible to achieve the objectives of independence," he said.

The Prime Minister said, "We should resolve to learn from our mistakes and work ceaselessly to build this homeland worthy of the ideals for which it was created." He said, "We must not also forget our Islamic heritage and ideology that formed the basis of Pakistan."

The Prime Minister said it has been the privilege of this democratically elected government to usher in a new era of progress and prosperity for the people of Pakistan.

He said the government firmly committed to strengthen the democratic process and people's participation in the affairs of the state.

Shaukat Aziz said in the last six years, the country has made significant progress in stabilizing its economy and putting it on the path of accelerated growth.

"We have pledged to bring electricity and clean drinking water to all parts of the country. We are fighting diseases and ignorance to make this country healthy and literate."

The Prime Minister said,"Pakistan today possesses a lot to be proud of but we still have to cover more ground to make our homeland a better place for the future generations as was envisioned by the Founding Fathers."●