PESHAWAR: Flooded with national flags, posters and decorative accessories, Peshawar was
decorated with green and white colors of the national flags on the eve of ‘75th Independence
Day of Pakistan’.
Following the Jashin-e-Azadi spirit that griped Pakistan including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for
the last one week, Peshawar’s all bazaars, markets and shopping arcades flooded with national
flags, banners, stickers, models of historical buildings and portraits of the heroes of
Independence Movement were beautifully illuminated with colorful buntings and lights looks
festive at night.
Balahisar Fort, Governor House, Peshawar Museum, Ghanta Ghar, Peshawar University, Civil
Secretariat, Islamia College Peshawar, FC Headquarters, Peshawar Development Authority,
State Life and Deans Trade Centre were artistically illuminated with colorful buntings
attracting people’s attention.
National flags were hoisting on all government buildings in Peshawar where people decorated
their vehicles with green and white colors to celebrate ‘Diamond Jubilee’ in most befitting
manner.
Qissa Khwani, the historic bazaar having about 2,500 old history and a centre of trade and
business since then, was also made green and white with national flags and banners where all
markets and shops were jam-packed.
“I came from Nowshera to paint my face with national flag by an expert artist to look different
on Independence Day,” Malaika Khan, a 4th grade student of Nowshera decorating her face
and hands with green and white colors at Shaheedano square at Qissa Khwani bazaar told
APP.
Carrying plastic bag with plenty of national flags, stickers, models of Islamia College Peshawar
and Minar-e-Pakistan, Malaika Khan, who was accompanied by his father, said that she
purchased 500 badges, stickers and posters for brothers, sisters, relatives and schools fellows
to celebrate independence day with great pump and show. “I will come again with my family
to watch flag hoisting ceremony at Peshawar and national anthem by police bands,” she said.
Asghar Afridi, a vendor shopkeeper of Khyber selling decorative items for children including
green toys, pressures horns, hats, masks, spectacles, bangles, flags, badges and models of
historical buildings of Pakistan Movement at Mohalla Jhangi near Qisakhwani told the news
agency that he rushed to Peshawar after seeing overwhelming response of youth and children
in decorative toys and stuff on TV.
Like others shopkeepers and traders, the printers of Mohalla Jahangi Peshawar, a hub of
printing, papers and graphic industries have also earned maximum profit after receiving
heavy printing orders for Jashin-e -Azadi celebrations from all 35 districts including seven
merged tribal districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Besides printing orders of national flags, posters, advertisements, graphics designing,
promotional cards, stickers, badges, billboards, panaflex and souvenirs from government
departments, private organizations, educational institutions and civil society, the Peshawar
based printers, publishers and graphic designers have made roaring business during last two
weeks where Jashn-e-Azadi materials were being sold like a hot cake.
To meet the pressing demands of thousands of customers, most of the printers engaged extra
laborers that worked till late night. They have rolled out hundreds of thousands of national
flags, posters, banners and decorative accessories since the start of this month while vendors
made quick profits on the streets.
Sitting on a revolving chair with focused his eyes on a computer while giving final touches to
flags, posters and pamphlets’ designs ordered by different schools and colleges in connection
with 75th Jashin-e-Azadi to be celebrated on Sunday, the 23-years-old printer, Anees Khan
Khattak has worked against the time to meet the set targets.
Anees Khattak, who is running a printing unit at Jahangi mohallah for last 10 years was
feeling proud to employ 20 laborers and said that the printing industry carried great scope and
would definitely encourage new talents if they wish to join the industry as a profession. “I am
ready to provide an internship to students who want to adopt printing, designing and
advertising as a career in my printing unit”, he added.
Zafar Khan Khattak, President All Printers and Publishers Association KP said that Peshawar
based printers and publishers have earned great profits in posters and national flags after a
boom were witnessed during Independence Day celebrations. Substantial printing orders of
national flags and green stickers/badges have been received from merged tribal districts
including South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Orakzai, Kurrum, Khyber, Mohmand and
Bajaur for Jashin-e-Azadi, he added.