Today, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) celebrated 7 decades of Pakistan’s existence; 7 decades of struggle, opportunities and success. As an institution that loves Pakistan and has worked hard to contribute to it in every possible way, LUMS celebrated its 70th anniversary with patriotic spirit and passion.
The celebrations began with a moment of silence, followed by a flag hoisting ceremony. Later on, attendees sang along with the national anthem. Congregational prayers for the country's prosperity were said. A large number of LUMS faculty, students and staff attended the event.
Afterwards, Acting Vice Chancellor LUMS, Dr. Shahid Masud read out the message of the President of Pakistan. “In the wake of challenges confronted by the country today, it is imperative to promote moderation and rationality. In such a situation, it is necessary to unite under the Constitution for national interests by setting aside our differences and ensure its supremacy,” shared Dr. Masud on behalf of the President of Pakistan, Mr. Mamnoon Hussain.
Extending warm felicitations on this occasion, Dr. Masud paid tribute to the visionary leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and also recounted the sacrifices of the people during the freedom struggle as well as in the war against terror. “We need to think for the nation's interest rather than our own self-interests. For Pakistan to prosper, we all need to stand united and work for one cause - that is Pakistan,” said Dr. Masud.
On the occasion, Dr. Furrukh A. Khan, Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School of Humanities and Social Sciences (MGSHSS) also shared his thought-provoking research and said, “Compiling the oral histories of the people who experienced partition and were at the Walton Refugee Camp which was the biggest refugee camp at the time was a learning experience. The research is a discourse about the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent, this camp, set up in Lahore that became a central place for the start of the formation of a national identity.”
The ceremony ended with a photograph of the attendees and a cake-cutting ceremony to commemorate the 70th Independence Day.