Pakistan on Sunday commemorated its Independence Day with national zeal and fervour.The day dawned with 31 gun salute in the federal and 21 gun salute in the provincial capitals, Radio Pakistan reported.The main ceremony of Independence Day was held at the Convention Centre in Islamabad where President Mamnoon Hussain along with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif hoisted the national flag.Flag hoisting ceremonies were also held at the provincial capitals and district headquarters besides other important national institutions.Meanwhile, all major public and private buildings, roads and avenues were decorated with illuminations, national flags, portraits of the national leaders and banners.In Lahore, a Change of Guard ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Iqbal earlier in the morning, Radio Pakistan reported.
A contingent of the Pakistan Army took charge as guards of the Mazaar from Punjab Rangers. Independence Day celebrations officially began with fireworks at parade ground Shakarparian in Islamabad after midnight.The ground and the surrounding areas were lit with thousands of colourful fireworks. Punjab IT Board draped an exclusive 100ft long and 120ft wide national flag on Arfa Software Technology Park, the tallest building in Lahore, the Nation reports. Mobile phone services remained suspended in several parts of Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, and other high-security areas in major cities - a step taken to ensure security on the occasion of the country's Independence Day.