Peshawar – Peshawar awoke on Friday to a sea of green and white as families, students and government officials gathered at flag-hoisting ceremonies to celebrate Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day with patriotic fervour.
Among them was seven-year-old Ismail Khan, dressed in green and white, a small Pakistani flag in his hand and the national colours painted on his cheek. Holding his father’s hand, he watched the national flag rise at the Civil Secretariat as the police band played a patriotic tune. For adults, it was a familiar Independence Day ritual. For Ismail, it was the fulfilment of a long-held childhood wish.
“Seeing flag-hoisting ceremonies and the police musical band was my long-wished-for dream,” he said, dancing with excitement. “A big thank you to my Papa for fulfilling my childhood dream today.”
Around him, schoolchildren sang patriotic songs, including Dil Dil Pakistan and Sohni Dharti Allah Rakay, while waving miniature flags. Similar scenes unfolded at Governor House, Police Lines, Railway Station, Islamia College Peshawar, University of Peshawar and the offices of the commissioner and deputy commissioner.
Flag-hoisting ceremonies were also held at deputy commissioner offices across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the seven merged districts.
By midday, green and white dominated Peshawar’s streets. Flags fluttered from rooftops and public buildings, while cars and motorcycles carried smaller flags. Children in national colours moved through bazaars wearing badges and carrying colourful Independence Day accessories.
At Qissa Khwani Bazaar, shops displayed wristbands, caps, scarves, horns, sunglasses, brooches, stickers and decorative pins. For children, selecting an accessory became part of the celebration.
Twelve-year-old Malaika Khan, shopping with her mother, said: “Pakistan is our beautiful homeland and we are proud to be Pakistani. Let’s love our country, respect our elders, help others and work hard to make Pakistan strong and successful.”
Her mother, Sumbul Bibi, said Independence Day should remind parents of their responsibility to raise honest, responsible and compassionate citizens.
Ten-year-old Ibrahim Khan, browsing Independence Day accessories at a nearby shop, offered another reminder that celebration carried responsibilities. He urged children to treat the national flag respectfully and never allow it to be damaged or discarded as waste.
The celebrations also prompted reflection on Pakistan’s history. Former ambassador Manzoorul Haq said the best tribute to those who sacrificed for the country was to follow Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s principles of unity, faith and discipline.
Muhammad Younas Khan, former chairman of the Pakistan Studies Department at Islamia College Peshawar, recalled the Quaid’s visits to the institution in 1936, 1945 and 1948. He particularly highlighted his April 12, 1948 address, in which Jinnah urged students to become dedicated, disciplined and sincere builders of the new nation.
Eight decades later, those words continued to resonate as children gathered beneath the national flag.
As celebrations continued, families decorated homes and vehicles, children rode bicycles adorned with miniature flags and young people posed for photographs in green and white. For Ismail, however, the day remained especially personal: beneath the fluttering flag and the sound of the police band, a childhood dream had finally come true.
