The nation celebrated the 79th Independence Day today with a renewed pledge to work with spirit of Pakistan Movement to make country a true Islamic welfare state. 

The day dawned with thirty-one-gun salute at the Federal Capital and twenty-one gun salute at provincial headquarters.

Special prayers were offered in mosques for peace, solidarity and prosperity of the country.

The main flag hoisting ceremony was held at Pakistan Monument in Islamabad where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hoisted the national flag.

Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, cabinet members, parliamentarians and school students were present on the occasion.

Flag hoisting ceremonies were also held in four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. 

In Punjab, main ceremony was held at Governor House in Lahore, where Acting Governor Punjab Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan hoisted the national flag. 

Meanwhile, Corps Commander Lahore, Lieutenant General Fayyaz Hussain Shah visited mausoleum of national poet and philosopher, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, laid floral wreath and offered Fateha.

In Sindh, flag hoisting ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Quaid Karachi where Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah hoisted the national flag.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Flag hoisting ceremony was also held at Police Lines in Dera Ismail Khan where Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur hoisted the national flag. 

In Balochistan, flag hoisting ceremony was held in Quetta where Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti along with Speaker Balochistan Assembly Abdul Khaliq Achakzai hoisted the National Flag.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq hoisted the flag at a ceremony in Muzaffarabad.   

In Gilgit-Baltistan, main flag hoisting ceremony was held at Chinar Bagh Gilgit where provincial Home Minister Shamsul Haq Lone hoisted the national flag and laid a wreath of flowers at the monument of the martyrs of the freedom.

It is pertinent to mention that recent victory in the Maarka-e-Haq against India's unprovoked aggression has amplified nation's fervor for this year's celebrations of the Independence Day.