Children are reciting the National anthem and waving the National flag during a ceremony organized on the occasion of 77th Independence Day celebration
Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrated in Netherlands
THE HAGUE, Aug 14 (APP):The embassy of Pakistan in the Netherlands celebrated Pakistan’s Independence Day here on Monday with traditional zeal and enthusiasm.
A flag hoisting ceremony was held at Pakistan House which was attended by a number of Pakistani community members including, students, women and children from different parts of the Netherlands.
The national flag was hoisted by ambassador Suljuk Mustansar Tarar at the tune of national anthem. Special messages of the President and the Prime Minister on this auspicious occasion were read out to the audience.
Shahroz Kashif, a renowned Pakistani mountaineer, also attended the flag hoisting ceremony. He is the youngest mountaineer who climbed the K2 on 27 July 2021. He also addressed the participants and informed about his plans to fly Pakistani flag on the top of all 14 eight-thousander mountains. Kashif is on a visit to the Netherlands to project tourism potential of the country.
The ambassador in his address paid tribute to the national heroes of Pakistan movement.
He informed about Pakistan – the Netherlands bilateral relations and the celebrations being held in the Hague and Islamabad to commemorate 75 years of the establishment of bilateral relations between the two countries this year.
He also emphasized to remember Kashmiri brothers and sisters in our prayers who are facing persecution in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). He reiterated Pakistan’s continued political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiri people.
The ambassador appreciated the Pakistani community’s active role. He urged the community members to continue to play a constructive role in improving relations between Pakistan and the Netherlands.
A group of young Pakistani diplomats who are in the Hague to attend training programme at the Clingendael Institute as part of Pakistan -Netherlands cooperation also attended the event.
The ceremony ended with prayers for the prosperity, safety and economic stability of Pakistan.
Establishment of Pakistan blessing of Allah Almighty: Dr Jamal
RAWALPINDI, Aug 14 (APP): Caretaker Provincial Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Dr Jamal Nasir on Monday said that Independence Day was the day of renewal of the pledge to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state.
Addressing a flag-hoisting ceremony held at the Punjab Arts Council in connection with the 76th Independence Day of Pakistan, he said that the establishment of Pakistan was a blessing for the Muslims of the subcontinent.
The minister said that the forefathers sacrificed their lives for an independent state, adding there was a need to make the young generation aware of the freedom movement.
He also congratulated the children who participated in the competitions.
Speaking on the occasion, Director of Arts Council Waqar Ahmad said that Pakistan was one of the blessings of Allah.
“Our forefathers made numerous sacrifices for Pakistan and Allama Iqbal’s dream was made a reality by Quaid-e-Azam.”
Waqar paid tributes to the martyrs of the Pakistan movement and said “Pakistan was achieved after sacrificing the lives of millions of people.
Assistant Director Muhammad Suleman said that the Muslims of the subcontinent made it possible to achieve a separate homeland under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam, who gave us an ideology and made us a nation. “We should not spare any sacrifice to make the country strong, progressive and prosperous.”
At the end of the ceremony, a special prayer was offered for the protection and development of Pakistan.
Speech, Tableau and National songs competitions were also held to mark Pakistan Independence Day in collaboration with the All Pakistan Private schools management association.
Ayesha, Ayesha Daniyal, Muhammad Ali and Abrasha got first, second, third and fourth positions in the national song competition.
Noor Sehar, Aishal, Roshana Malik and Arfa Malik were awarded the first, second, third and fourth prizes in the speech contest.
In the tableau competition, Iqra School came first, City Lyceum second, New Education School third and ASA School fourth.
The chief guest and the director of the Arts Council distributed shields and appreciation certificates among the position holders.
A large number of students from the twin cities participated in the competitions.
Independence Day celebrated in Rwp division with zeal, fervor
RAWALPINDI, Aug 14 (APP): The 76th Independence Day was celebrated on Monday in Rawalpindi division with great enthusiasm and national zeal.
Main flag hoisting ceremony was organized at Commissioner Office Rawalpindi where Provincial Minister for Health, Dr. Jamal Nasir, and Commissioner Rawalpindi hoisted national flag.
Regional Police Officer, Syed Khurram Ali, Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema, City Police Officer, Khalid Hamdani, Zamurd Khan, President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Saqib Rafique, President Anjuman-e-Tajran Shahid Ghafoor Paracha, students and a large number of citizens attended the ceremony.
Another flag hoisting ceremony was organized at Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench where Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf was chief guest.
Third flag hoisting ceremony was held at Government Waqar un Nisa Graduate College for Women where Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chatta was chief guest.
DC Rawalpindi, Director Colleges, Rwp, Prof Sher Ahmed Satti, and Principal Government Waqar Un Nisa College Prof. Dr Zahida Perveen were present on the occasion.
Rawalpindi District Administration, District Police, City Traffic Police, Punjab Emergency Service, Rescue-1122, Civil Defence and other departments concerned made best possible arrangements to celebrate the Independence Day in a dignified manner.
Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on the directives of Chief Secretary Punjab, Zahid Akhtar Zaman finalized excellent arrangements to celebrate 76th Independence Day.
On the directives of Director General (DG) RDA Saif Anwar Jappa, the authorities beautifully decorated the markets, plazas, shops and roads particularly Murree Road from Chandni Chowk to Faizabad and Airport Road with national flags, buntings, paintings and colourful lights.
All the main buildings including Rawalpindi Railway Station, Rawalpindi and Chaklala Cantonment Board offices, Askari Plaza, Mall Road, Metro Track, Murree Road, RDA, WASA and PHA buildings, National Bank Saddar Main Branch, Bank Road, Mall Road and several other areas were beautifully decorated to mark the Independence Day.
The buildings were illuminated and a number of colourful activities were also organized to mark this occasion with great enthusiasm.
Different public and private departments held special functions and activities including seminars, discussion programmes, photographic exhibitions, painting, poetry, national songs and debate competitions with the focus on acknowledging the contribution of leaders of Pakistan movement and sacrifices of national heroes.
Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) arranged exhibitions and other activities to mark Independence Day.
According to roadside vendors, the most enthusiastic were the children who were busy in collecting badges and also beautifying their bicycles with special stickers inscribed with messages of Independence Day.
A vendor, Mushtaq near Sixth Road said the demand for the national flag and badges was on the rise after Aug 10, adding that most of the motorists were buying flags to hoist on their vehicles. Another seller in Committee Chowk area namely Hamid said that like every year, this year too the vendors at their stalls on footpaths done a roaring business.
A large number of stalls with buntings, flags, badges and other items were established in several city markets including Tench Bhatta, Lalkurti, Saddar, Moti, Raja and Urdu Bazaars, Benazir Bhutto Road, Bunni Market, Satellite Town, Sadiqabad and other areas of the city.
National songs were in the air which were giving the message that whole the nation is united.
Many food outlets offered ‘Azadi’ deals with special discounts to attract food lovers while different boutiques and shops also offered a huge variety of ‘Azadi’ dresses.
According to a Rawalpindi district police spokesman, police had beefed up security on Jashan-e-Azadi while over 1800 cops were deployed under the security plan devised for Independence Day.
They were supported by members of the Elite Force, Women Police officers and officials from the special branch. Special temporary pickets were also set up for snap checking and for cordoning off sensitive areas.
Police officers were also deputed on parks and entertainment spots in the city. There were enhanced patrolling from police officers, members of the elite force, Muhafiz Squads and Dolphin Force.
On the directives of the City Police Officer, Syed Khalid Mehmood Hamdani, strict action was taken against those found indulged in any illegal activity on Independence Day such as aerial firing, one-wheeling and rash driving.
The police spokesperson said special security arrangements were made for Murree.
According to Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Rawalpindi Tamoor Khan, 34 special pickets were erected in the city and on entry points of Murree to thwart one-wheeling on the eve of August 14 and strict action was taken against one-wheelers.
Over 800 traffic officials were on special duty while special arrangements were also made for Sunday night.
37 one-wheelers and an accused involved in aerial firing were rounded up during operations. Separate cases were registered against arrested accused.
The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) organized a musical night and fireworks show at Liaquat Bagh on Sunday night, August 13. Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chatta was chief guest at the program.
PHA also organized a musical night at Rawalpindi Arts Council on Aug 14.
According to Cantonment Executive Officer Imran Gulzar, the Cantt Board also celebrated Independence Day with the same zeal as it celebrated it in the past.
National flags were hoisted on the cantonment board office building, PIA Building, AWT Plaza, State Life Building, Mall Plaza, Mall Business Centre and other buildings on Mall Road.
Pakistan Railways also decorated the railway station building and the superintendent’s office building with lights, flags, and other national symbols.
The business community also actively took part in the Independence Day celebrations and decorated the markets and roads.
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PSA announce 2023-24 World Tour calendar
ISLAMABAD, Aug 14 (APP): The Professional Squash Association (PSA) has announced its 2023-24 PSA World Tour calendar, with 36 events scheduled to take place across five continents from August 2023 to June 2024.
The season begins in Canada for the inaugural Windsor Cup, which would be held between from August 15 to 19. The first Platinum event of the new campaign would then see France hold a major squash tournament for the first time since 1994 when the Paris Squash event marks its debut on the calendar from August 27 to September 2. The event would take place on the grounds of the Palais de Tokyo in the shadow of the iconic Eiffel Tower, said a press release.
The Q-Terminals Qatar Classic will take place in September, featuring a women’s draw for the first time since 2015, with the prestigious U.S. Open taking place the following month.
The City Tattersalls Group Australian Open – held in Sydney between November 8-12 – would rejoin the World Tour in what will be the biggest PSA event held in the country since 2012.
2023 ends with the Hong Kong Squash Open at the end of November and beginning of December, before the tour signs off for the winter break following the culmination of the women’s Barfoot & Thompson New Zealand Open and the men’s Robertson Lodges New Zealand Open on December 10.
2024 kicks off with the Gold-level Kinetic Orange Ball Florida Open in what would be the State’s biggest ever PSA event. The J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions then follows, with the first Platinum event of the New Year being staged yet again in the stunning Vanderbilt Hall at New York’s iconic Grand Central Terminal.
The Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family returns to the calendar at the end of February after being replaced in last season’s calendar by the PSA World Championships in Chicago. The tour returns to Egypt in April for the Black Ball Open and El Gouna International, while the biggest tournament in squash – the PSA World Championships – will be held in May, with the venue for that tournament set to be announced soon.
The British Open would return to the spectacular Birmingham Rep Theatre at the start of June, before the season wraps up at the PSA World Tour Finals at the end of the month.
In addition to the various trophies on offer, points for the PSA World Tour Finals Leaderboard would be available at all PSA World Tour events throughout the season.
The top eight players on the standings qualify for the season-ending PSA World Tour Finals, whilst all Platinum winners and the reigning PSA World Champions qualify automatically for the season-ending spectacle, which was won by Egyptian duo Mostafa Asal and Nouran Gohar last season.
PSA World Tour Calendar: August 2023 – June 2024 (Dates Subject to Change)- August 15-19 Windsor Cup (Bronze): Windsor, Canada; August 27 – September 2 Paris Squash (Platinum): Paris, France; September 9-16 Q-Terminals Qatar Classic (Platinum): Doha, Qatar; September 27 – October 1 Southwestern Open presented by Cotidié (Gold): Houston, United States; October 1-5 Open Squash Classic (Bronze): New York, United States; October 7-14 U.S. Open (Platinum): Philadelphia, United States; October 17-22 Grasshopper Cup (Gold): Zurich, Switzerland; October 23-27 QSF 4 (Bronze): Doha, Qatar; November 1-5 Ace Malaysia Squash Cup (Bronze): Seremban, Malaysia; November 8-12 City Tattersalls Group Australian Open (Bronze): Sydney, Australia; November 14-19 Vitagen Singapore Squash Open (Gold): Singapore; November 21-25 The Hong Kong Football Club Open (Bronze): Hong Kong; November 27 – December 3 Hong Kong Squash Open (Platinum): Hong Kong; December 5-10 Barfoot & Thompson New Zealand Open (Silver): Tauranga, New Zealand; December 5-10 Robertson Lodges New Zealand Open (Silver): Tauranga, New Zealand; January 8-14 Kinetic Orange Ball Florida Open (Gold): Boynton Beach, United States; January 17-25 J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions (Platinum): New York, United States; January 25-29 Carol Weymuller Open (Bronze): New York, United States; January 31 – February 4 Bahl and Gaynor Cincinnati Gaynor Cup (Silver): Cincinnati, United States; January 31-February 4 Sturbridge Capital Motor City Open (Silver): Detroit, United States; February 6-10 DAC Pro Squash Classic (Silver): Detroit, United States; February 7-11 Pittsburgh Open (Silver): Pittsburgh, United States; February 13-18 Houston Men’s Open (Gold): Houston, United States; February 14-18 Squash on Fire Open (Bronze): Washington D.C., United States; February 21-28 Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family (Platinum): Chicago, United States; March 3-7 Canadian Open (Silver): Calgary, Canada; March 5-10 Cleveland Classic (Silver / Bronze): Cleveland, United States; March 12-17 Optasia Championships (Gold): London, England; March 19-24 London Classic (Gold): London, England; April 3-7 German Open (Bronze): Hamburg, Germany; April 11-16 Black Ball Open (Gold): Cairo, Egypt; April 19-26 El Gouna International (Platinum): El Gouna, Egypt; May 9-17 PSA World Championships: Venue TBA; May 22-26 Manchester Open (Silver): Manchester, England; June 2-9 British Open (Platinum): Birmingham, England; June 24-28 PSA World Tour Finals: Venue TBA.
The 2023-24 season is set to be the busiest ever on the PSA World Tour and we’re excited to add a number of spectacular new locations onto the calendar,” said PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough.
National flag hoisted at Pakistan House to mark Independence day in New York
NEW YORK, Aug 14 (APP): Pakistan’s 76th Independence Day was zealously celebrated in New York on Monday, with the hoisting of the national flag at the Pakistan House by Ambassador Munir Akram, as the national anthem was played.
The joint ceremony, held by the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN and the Consulate General, started with recitation from the Holy Quran.
It was attended by officers and staff of the Pakistan Mission and the Consulate General.
President Dr Arif Alvi’s message for the occasion was tread out by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Aamir Khan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s message was delivered by the Trade and Commerce Officer at the Consulate, Talat Gondal.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Akram highlighted the importance of the Lahore Resolution which led to the establishment of Pakistan.
He paid tributes to the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and the sacrifices made by the Muslims of the sub-continent during the freedom movement.
The ceremony was concluded by the dua for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.
APP/ift
Abdullah Gul leads Pakistan’s biggest flag rally in Pindi
ISLAMABAD, Aug 14 (APP): Chairman Tehreek-e-Jawanaan Pakistan (TJP) Mohammad Abdullah Gul on Monday led the country’s biggest flag rally held at the old Airport Road at Koral which was participated by a large number of youth and people from different walks of life.
The length of the flag was 850 feet and its width was 11 feet which was prepared in three months duration under the supervision of President TJP Nawab Shah district Umar Sial, a news release said.
Speaking on the occasion, Mohammad Abdullah Gul said that nations should cut their heads to raise their flags, but never let their flag being desecrated or disrespected at any point of time.
He said that on independence day the political parties should hoist the national flag instead of party flags as it gives liveliness and a good image of a nation in the world.
Addressing the rally, Khan Mohammad Khan Vice President of TJP South Punjab said we are proud that we are hoisting such a big flag whereas it was necessary to unite and rise above all linguistic difference under the shadow of this Supreme flag.