ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Day was commemorated across the nation on Monday, with official celebrations kicking off with the customary 31-gun salute in the federal capital, and 21-gun salutes in the provincial capitals.
Special prayers were offered after morning prayers for the progress and prosperity of the country.
Pakistan Day commemorates the adoption of the Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940, which set the agenda for a separate homeland for Muslims of the Subcontinent.
People across the country “renewed their pledge to transform Pakistan into a true Islamic welfare state in line with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah”, according to Radio Pakistan.
FM Dar extends warm greetings on Pakistan Day
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar extended warm greetings to the nation on the occasion of Pakistan Day.
“Today, we honour the Lahore Resolution adopted on 23 March 1940, under which Muslims of the subcontinent demanded a separate homeland where they could live according to the principles of Islam,” he said in a statement shared by the Foreign Office Pakistan on X.
He noted that the country marks its national day at a time when the region is engulfed in conflicts. “Today, we celebrate our national day at a time when our region is engulfed in conflicts,” he said, adding that “the economic and political repercussions of the ongoing conflict in our region have affected us as well.”
The statement added that Pakistan remains firmly committed to eradicating the menace of terrorism. “Pakistan’s actions inside Afghanistan against the menace of Fitna-ul-Khawarij and Fitna-ul-Hindustan are directed towards this goal,” it said.
He also paid tribute to the nation’s martyrs and heroes. “We pay tribute to our martyrs and heroes who have rendered the supreme sacrifice for the betterment of our collective future,” the statement added.
CM Murad Ali Shah and Governor Sindh Nehal Hashmi call for national unity on Pakistan day
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, while talking to the media on Pakistan Day, said, “On this occasion of 23rd March, I have come to pay tribute at Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum. The Lahore Resolution laid the foundation of this country, and soon after, the Sindh Muslim League passed the Pakistan Resolution, making Sindh the first province to do so on March 3, 1943.”
He added, “We have faced many challenges, but Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s atomic program gave our country strength, bolstering our defense. Under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Chief of Defence Staff Asim Munir, Pakistan has taken significant steps, making it hard for enemies to even look at us with malice.”
CM Murad continued, “Today, we should pledge to follow Quaid-e-Azam’s principles of unity, faith, and discipline. With the threat of war looming, we must unite, overcome internal conflicts, and move forward together as a strong and resilient nation.”
Governor Sindh Nehal Hashmi, while briefing the media, also emphasised national unity, saying, “Let us strengthen Pakistan’s unity on this auspicious occasion. Through our voices, words, and actions, we must show the world that we are a great nation.”
He added, “As we look ahead to 2040, it is our responsibility to start preparing today to turn Pakistan into the country of our dreams. This is the message of the day. May Allah keep our beloved homeland safe and prosperous.”
