The nation is celebrating the 145th birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, today with zeal and fervor.

The day started with special prayers for the 'Father of the nation' and for the prosperity and progress of the country. A change of guard ceremony took place at the Mazar-e-Quaid in the morning during which Pakistan Military Academy Kakul cadets took over guard duties from the Pakistan Air Force.

President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan, in separate messages, paid tribute to Pakistan's first governor-general and urged the nation to follow the footsteps of great Quaid in all walks of life.

In his message, the president said:

"As we celebrate the 144th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, we pay him a rich tribute for his role in the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent."

The president also said that while commemorating Quaid day, the nation must also remember the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, who are being subjected to the worst kind of state-terrorism for over seven decades.

The premier in his message said let us live the Quaid’s ideals of Unity, Faith, and Discipline with a renewed national spirit so that we make this country rise above all seen and unseen challenges. Taking to Twitter, the prime minister said:

"On this eventful day when Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born, a proud nation was destined to come into being. I feel blessed to have opened my eyes in a free environment bestowed upon us by God through his chosen personality who was none other but our beloved Quaid," Khan said and added, "He had a vision for the Muslims of the subcontinent which got translated into the shape of Pakistan. Therefore, there is no other pleasure more real to us as a nation than the commemoration of his birthday. As a prime representative of the whole nation, I owe immense gratitude, love, and devotion towards my beloved leader Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah."