Islamabad, August 14, 2025: Independence Day is being celebrated across Pakistan today with traditional zeal and national pride. The day began with a 21-gun salute in major cities and special Fajr prayers for the country’s progress, unity, peace, and prosperity.
Festivities commenced at midnight as the nation marked both its freedom and the recent historic victory against India. Cities, towns, streets, and neighbourhoods across the country were decorated in the green and white of the national flag.
From Karachi to Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Multan, public buildings and landmarks were illuminated, while fireworks lit up the night sky. Citizens thronged streets, and celebratory rallies were held in various locations.
A special Independence Day and Marka-e-Haq victory ceremony was held at Jinnah Sports Complex, Islamabad, attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the chiefs of the three armed forces. Federal cabinet members, parliamentarians, diplomats from friendly countries, and a large number of citizens also participated.
The event featured an impressive march-past by the combined military band and contingents from the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, Punjab Rangers, and Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also unveiled the model of the Marka-e-Haq Memorial.
In Lahore, the day began with a 21-gun salute, followed by special prayers for national unity and prosperity. Similar ceremonies were held in Quetta, where the salute was fired at the Cantonment and mosques offered prayers for the nation’s safety.
Solemn change-of-guards ceremonies were also held at the mausoleums of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi and Allama Iqbal in Lahore to mark the occasion.
Pakistan’s civil and military leadership marked the nation’s 78th Independence Day on Thursday with messages of unity, resilience, and commitment to defending sovereignty — linking this year’s celebrations to the recent military success in Marka-e-Haq, the conflict with India from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the May 10 conclusion of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.
Leaders paid tribute to the sacrifices of Pakistan’s founders and martyrs, emphasising that the April–May confrontation had reinforced the sanctity of the country’s freedom and strengthened the resolve to safeguard it.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged political forces and citizens to “unite in the spirit of 1947” to build a strong and prosperous Pakistan. “The past 78 years tell a tale of resilience, strong faith, and hope for a bright future,” he said, linking the nation’s endurance to the armed forces’ recent victory.
Calling the four-day war “not merely a military conquest, but also the validation of the Two-Nation Theory,” the PM praised the armed forces for “shattering the false pride of the enemy” and pledged to defend national interests, including water resources. While reaffirming Pakistan’s belief in peaceful coexistence, he urged India to resolve all disputes — particularly Jammu and Kashmir — through dialogue.
Sharif also underlined economic stability as vital for national defence, citing a reduction in electricity tariffs and pledging to mobilise resources to address economic, industrial, and technological challenges.
President Asif Ali Zardari
President Asif Ali Zardari described the recent conflict as “a landmark moment” that showcased “unshakable national will, professional excellence, and united purpose.” He said Pakistan responded to Indian aggression “with clarity, courage, and restraint,” proving it is “peace-loving, yet fully capable of defending sovereignty.”
Calling for unity beyond political divides, the president urged channeling the spirit of Marka-e-Haq into economic revival, educational reform, technological progress, institutional strengthening, and environmental resilience. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering diplomatic, moral, and political support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle for self-determination.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar paid tribute to the sacrifices of Pakistan’s founders and stressed that “freedom is preserved not only by defending borders but by upholding truth, justice, and dignity” in foreign policy. He lauded the resolve of the armed forces and citizens during the recent confrontation, calling for unity to protect democratic values and build a prosperous future.
Military leadership, in a joint message from Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, reaffirmed their resolve to safeguard sovereignty, uphold the Constitution, and protect national values. They paid tribute to the visionaries and soldiers who laid the nation’s foundations and stressed that the “unbreakable bond” between the armed forces and the people remains the cornerstone of Pakistan’s strength.
