Pakistan’s I-Day celebration in Delhi

NEW DELHI - Shahid Malik, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India, presided over the celebrations of Pakistan’s Independence Day, at the High Commission here on Saturday.

Malik hoisted the flag of Pakistan while children sang the national anthem. Children were also seen dancing to patriotic songs to mark the celebration of their Independence Day.

The celebrations were relatively low-key in the wake of the floods that devastated parts of the country.

“The spirit of Pakistan’s Independence Day has died down due to the floods which took many lives. This flood has affected millions of lives. For this, it’s our duty to support the people of flood-affected areas and keep this celebration a low profile one,” said Shah Zaman Khan, Minister (Press).

The floods, triggered by torrential monsoon downpours, engulfed Pakistan’s Indus River basin, killing more than 1,600 people, forcing two million from their homes and disrupting the lives of about 14 million people, or eight percent of the population.

Pakistani citizens have celebrated Independence Day on August 14 to mark the creation of the country after the Partition. (ANI)