Pakistan celebrates 72nd Independence Day

Islamabad, Aug 14 Pakistan today commended its 72nd Independence Day with memorial functions held in cities across the country.

The day-long festivities started with extraordinary petitions in mosques and the hoisting of the national flag at all important public buildings in the nation, which have been beautified with bunting and lights.

To mark the day, a 31-gun salute was held in the capital, trailed by 21-gun salutes in every one of the four provincial capitals, the Dawn reported.

The main ceremony was held at Islamabad's Jinnah Convention Centre, where President Mamnoon Hussain hoisted the national flag.

The ceremony was also gone to via overseer Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, the three head of the military and other prominent identities and remote dignitaries.

Flag hoisting ceremonies were held in the provincial capitals and also district headquarters.

Change-of-guard functions were also held at the mausoleums of Quaid-I-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal in Karachi and Lahore, separately.

Pakistan Rangers officials at the Wagah border crossing exchanged sweets with Indian Border Security Force work force.

In their separate messages, President Mamnoon and Prime Minister Mulk stretched out felicitations to the country now and again of the 72nd independence day.

Mamnoon said Pakistan can defeat the financial issues and different issues it is looking by just after the lessons of Jinnah and Allama Iqbal in their actual soul.

In his message, the prime minister said the occasion "helps us to remember the epic democratic struggle of our forefathers for anchoring a different country for the Muslims of the sub-mainland where they could mold their lives as per their religious, cultural and social qualities," as per Radio Pakistan.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, nominated by the largest party in the National Assembly to be the nation's next prime minister, is expected to take oath on August 18.