In pictures: Pakistan celebrates 79 years of independence

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Celebrations were held across Pakistan on Friday as the nation celebrated 79 years of independence.</p> <p>State-run <em>Radio Pakistan</em> reported that the day dawned with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and a 21-gun salute at the provincial headquarters. A change of guards ceremony was also held at the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi.</p> <p>Here are some glimpses of Independence Day celebrations from Karachi and Lahore.</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/14143608f5df131.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/14143608f5df131.webp' alt='Attendees gather as Pakistan&rsquo;s national flag is hoisted during Independence Day celebrations, at the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi on August 14, 2026. &mdash; Reuters' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>Attendees gather as Pakistan’s national flag is hoisted during Independence Day celebrations, at the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi on August 14, 2026. — Reuters</figcaption> </figure> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/141437022730fe1.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/141437022730fe1.webp' alt='Attendees wave Pakistani flags during Independence Day celebrations at the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in Karachi on August 14, 2026. &mdash; Reuters' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>Attendees wave Pakistani flags during Independence Day celebrations at the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in Karachi on August 14, 2026. — Reuters</figcaption> </figure> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/141904185be4dbe.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/141904185be4dbe.webp' alt='People participate in a camel carriage rally during Independence Day celebrations in Karachi on August 14, 2026. &mdash; AFP' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>People participate in a camel carriage rally during Independence Day celebrations in Karachi on August 14, 2026. — AFP</figcaption> </figure> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/1419514981a96e8.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/1419514981a96e8.webp' alt='People sit in the grass during Independence Day celebrations at Frere Hall in Karachi on Aug 14, 2026. &mdash; White Star' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>People sit in the grass during Independence Day celebrations at Frere Hall in Karachi on Aug 14, 2026. — White Star</figcaption> </figure> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/14195615b185fc8.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/14195615b185fc8.webp' alt='Children are seen playing with bubbles during Independence Day celebrations at Frere Hall in Karachi on Aug 14, 2026. &mdash; White Star' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>Children are seen playing with bubbles during Independence Day celebrations at Frere Hall in Karachi on Aug 14, 2026. — White Star</figcaption> </figure> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/14194408288ac2a.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/14194408288ac2a.webp' alt='People gather in large numbers to celebrate Independence Day at Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore on Aug 14, 2026. &mdash; White Star' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>People gather in large numbers to celebrate Independence Day at Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore on Aug 14, 2026. — White Star</figcaption> </figure> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/141944083cb87e8.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/141944083cb87e8.webp' alt='Children stand on and around a railway engine at a railway station in Lahore on Aug 14, 2026. &mdash; White Star' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>Children stand on and around a railway engine at a railway station in Lahore on Aug 14, 2026. — White Star</figcaption> </figure> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/141944077c756d9.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/141944077c756d9.webp' alt='A Doraemon plush and balloons printed with the Pakistan flag are seen tied to a car, while a person sits on the edge of the window, driving along Mall Road in Lahore on Aug 14, 2026. &mdash; White Star' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>A Doraemon plush and balloons printed with the Pakistan flag are seen tied to a car, while a person sits on the edge of the window, driving along Mall Road in Lahore on Aug 14, 2026. — White Star</figcaption> </figure> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/14194407f403ce3.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/14194407f403ce3.webp' alt='A Pakistan flag is seen flying from a small boat on the River Ravi on Aug 14, 2026. &mdash; White Star' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>A Pakistan flag is seen flying from a small boat on the River Ravi on Aug 14, 2026. — White Star</figcaption> </figure> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/14194807e0e896d.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/14194807e0e896d.webp' alt='Massive crowds are seen standing at Liberty Chowk for Independence Day celebrations in Lahore on Aug 14, 2026. &mdash; White Star' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>Massive crowds are seen standing at Liberty Chowk for Independence Day celebrations in Lahore on Aug 14, 2026. — White Star</figcaption> </figure> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/14150351a832a31.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/14150351a832a31.webp' alt='Fireworks are photographed during celebrations ahead of Independence Day, in Islamabad on August 14, 2026. &mdash; AFP' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>Fireworks are photographed during celebrations ahead of Independence Day, in Islamabad on August 14, 2026. — AFP</figcaption> </figure> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media-- ' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/1415012394533b1.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2026/08/1415012394533b1.webp' alt='Commuters move along an illuminated road on the eve of Independence Day, in Karachi on August 13, 2026. &mdash; Reuters' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>Commuters move along an illuminated road on the eve of Independence Day, in Karachi on August 13, 2026. — Reuters</figcaption> </figure> <hr /> <p><em>Header image: Green balloons and Pakistan’s flags are seen tied to a car driving along Mall Road in Lahore on Aug 14, 2026. — White Star</em></p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.