The nation celebrated 144th birthday of Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on Wednesday, with renewed pledge to work hard for progress and prosperity of the country.  

It was a public holiday and national flag was hoisted a top all public and private buildings.The day dawned with Quran Khawani at the Quaid's mausoleum in Karachi.

A graceful change of guards ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi this morning.A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Military Academy Kakul assumed the guards' duty.

Commandant Pakistan Military Academy Major General Muhammad Ali was chief guest on the occasion.

A number of events, including seminars, debates and exhibitions, were arranged both at official and civil society levels to highlight life, achievements and different aspects of the personality of the Quaid.  

Radio Pakistan also broadcast special programmes, discussions, interviews and reports to highlight different phases of independence struggle and the leadership role of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

In Lahore, several government departments and non-governmental political, social, academic and literary organizations organized special ceremonies and paid rich tributes to political services and achievements of Quaid e Azam for creation of a separate motherland for Muslims of Sub-Continent.

One such ceremony was held at Aiwan e Karkunan Tahreek e Pakistan under aegis of Nazria e Pakistan Trust. Vice Chairman of Trust, Prof. Dr. Rafiq Ahmad was Chief Guest. Provincial Ministers Mian Aslam Iqbal, Senator Waleed Iqbal and several other political and academic personalities attended the ceremony.

To mark the day, special programs were arranged in Karachi today by various educational, political and social organizations to highlight the life and leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, representatives of three armed forces and people of different walks of life visited the mausoleum to lay floral wreath and offered their respect and gratitude to the great leader whose unerring efforts paved the way for a separate homeland for the Muslims of Sub-Continent.

The main function in connection with the birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was held in Nishtar Hall Peshawar today.

Addressing the function, the speakers pay rich tribute the struggle of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah for getting a separate homeland for Muslims of Sub-continent.

Later, a Mushaira arranged by Directorate of Culture   titled” Sub Ka Pakistan” was also held to highlight the sacrifices rendered by leaders of Pakistan Movement.

Meanwhile different educational and cultural organizations have also arranged special functions to mark the day.

Similar functions were also held across the province.

A special flag hoisting ceremony on the eve of Birth Anniversary of the Great Quaid held at the Residency of Quaid-i-Azam in Ziarat district this afternoon.

Addressing the ceremony, Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan said that the present government is striving round the clock for the welfare of the masses of the province as per vision presented by the Founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Earlier, the Chief Guest of the ceremony Jam Kamal hoisted the National Flag on the residency of the Quaid-i-Azam.

In AJK, People celebrated 143rd birth anniversary of founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah with a renewed commitment to continue the individual and collective role for making Pakistan progressive and prosperous in letter and spirit.

The day dawned with special prayers in the mosques across the AJK for the integrity, solidarity, progress and prosperity of Pakistan and for the early success of the Kashmir freedom movement.

On the other hand, the birth anniversary of founder of Pakistan and father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was also celebrated in Gilgit Baltistan today.

In his comment, Governor Gilgit-Baltistan Raja Jalal Hussain paid glowing tributes to Father of the Nation for creating a separate homeland for the Muslims of Sub continent.

Recent developments in India, IOJ&K vindicate two-nation theory: President, PM

In their separate messages on the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation, the President and Prime Minister have said the recent developments in India and occupied Kashmir have again vindicated the conviction of the great Quaid that the extremist Hindus would never allow Muslim minority to live with respect and dignity.

In his message, President Dr Arif Alvi said Quaid-e-Azam was a visionary man who envisaged the separate identity, needs and political direction of the Muslims of the subcontinent.

He said the acumen of his foresight and vision can be witnessed even today with the prevailing conditions in India and occupied Kashmir.

The President said by paying homage to this Great Leader, we should stand united and re-affirm our faith in his teachings.

Prime Minister Imran Khan in his message said the best way to pay homage to the Quaid on his birth anniversary is to adhere to his principles of Unity, Faith and Discipline.

He said the entire world is witnessing the perversion of the so-called secular outlook of the Indian Constitution today with discrimination and brutal actions against different minorities.

He said on this Day we must not also forget the oppressed people of Occupied Kashmir facing the worst human rights violations at the hands of the fascist RSS-inspired BJP government. 

FM says Quaid-e-Azam believed in law, justice

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says today we pay homage to our Quaid, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who believed in law and justice.

In a tweet, he said Quaid-e-Azam was a man of great vision who foresaw the importance of two separate nations.

He said 72 years later Quaid's worst critics concede that he was right.

Iqbal/Jawwad/Ahsan/Sher/Sherazi/Saqib/Matiullah/Waqas/Athar/Karrar