Celebrating with full-on fervour by zafar iqbal SHARJAH: The people of Pakistan are celebrating their 67th Independence Day with full-on traditional zeal. August 14, 1947 was the day when the dream of an independent state for the Muslims of the Subcontinent came true. This was the day when Pakistan emerged on the map of the globe and the immense struggle and uncountable sacrifices finally started tasting the fruit of a free country. On this auspicious day the nation begins the red-letter day by bowing before the Almighty Allah and praying for the permanent peace and progressing prosperity of the motherland. The Pakistani community, residing in the UAE, too takes an active part in the celebration with the same zeal. Faraz Hafeez, an import-export businessman in Sharjah, wants the leaders of all the political parties in Pakistan to arrive at a consensus for a better and stronger country. “Well, this is our 67th Independence Day. Today we need to pledge ourselves that it shouldn’t be just counting the number and nothing else. The promises of our people and political leadership on the celebration day should be delivered too.” Showing concern about the performance of the representation in society, he appeals: “I request my political leaders to control the law and order situation and give some relief to the common people.” Hailing from Karachi, the port city and economic capital of Pakistan, Rizwan Mehmood Qadri emphasises: “In fact, this is the day to decide that we should all stand united under one umbrella. The country has been facing challenges on security and economic fronts. And to win over all the circumstances we need to be armed with unity.” Recalling the busy schedule back home on Independence Day and getting dressed up in green and white shalwar kameez and bangles matching the colours of the national flag, Iram Ajmal, a Sharjah resident, states: “We used to and still celebrate the big day with total enthusiasm wearing dresses matching the shades of our national flag.” She used to visit the monuments of the national heroes in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, and pray for the country’s better future. “We request our newly elected government to bring about sustainable peace and maintain the law and order situation at all costs. We hope that the government of Nawaz Sharif will overcome all the problems in a short period of time,” she concludes. Fascinated by the impressive Independence Day parade since his childhood, Imran Saleem still watches the tremendous occasion, hosted in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, on his TV screen in Sharjah. “I love watching participants who attend the Independence Day parade, donning green and white shades which are the Pakistani flag’s colours.” The festive mood reached its high when “we used to exchange gifts and visit recreational sites in our school days back in Pakistan,” he recalls. gulftoday.ae/portal/a9374955-b065-4a39-8cb2-de3cd33ee8ff.aspx
Posted on: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 21:38:46 +0000