LAHORE: The nation will celebrate the 149th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah with national zeal and fervour today. There will be a public holiday on Thursday and all public and private institutions will remain closed. The national flag will hoist atop all public and private buildings. The day will dawn with gun salutes in the federal and provincial capitals after which a graceful changing of the guard’s ceremony will be held at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi. Quran Khawani will also be held at the Mazar-e-Quaid. The entire nation salutes Quaid-e-Azam’s political vision and statesmanship, which led to the establishment of an independent homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent despite immense challenges. It was the Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s unparalleled leadership and selfless struggle that led to the creation of Pakistan. Highlighting Quaid-e-Azam’s commitment to protecting the political, religious, economic and cultural rights of Muslims, analysts said that despite the daunting challenges of Partition, including mass migration, resource scarcity, and administrative hurdles, the Father of the Nation laid the foundations of strong Pakistan and instilled in the people the courage and confidence to move forward. They urged the people of Pakistan to follow Quaid’s guiding principles of faith, unity and discipline. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025