The birthday of the nation’s founder Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah is being observed on Monday (today) with traditional zeal across the country.

The day dawned with gun salutes at the federal and provincial capitals and a change of the guard’s ceremony at Jinnah’s mausoleum in Karachi.

A large number of people from all walks of life visited the mausoleum to pay tribute to the founder of Pakistan for his services.

Special events have been planned for the day, Radio Pakistan reported. The participants of the events would pay tribute to the founder of Pakistan for his efforts and visionary leadership.

Jinnah was born on December 25, 1876, in Karachi. The day is a public holiday and the national flag is hoisted on principal government buildings throughout the country.

Jinnah was a lawyer by profession and a politician. He served as the All-India Muslim League leader from 1913 until Pakistan’s independence on Aug 14, 1947. He was Pakistan’s first governor general. He died on September 11, 1948.

In their separate messages, President Arif Alvi and caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar stressed the need for forging unity for the continuity of democracy, peaceful coexistence, rule of law, and the elimination of extremist forces.

President Alvi said that Quaid-i-Azam was the “great benefactor” of the nation whose efforts led to the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent, the state-run broadcaster said.

Alvi said the founder of Pakistan advocated for the rights of the Muslim community. “The situation demands from us to follow the vision of the father of the nation and his guiding principles in letter and spirit to promote unity and democratic values,” he said.

Caretaker PM Kakar said that Quaid’s principles of “unity, faith and discipline” should be the guiding principles for all as a nation to realise the democratic state as conceived by its founder.

He said that the personality of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a “beacon of guidance” owing to his unmatched character and extraordinary leading qualities.

The resolve and undeterred will of the Quaid had infused the Muslims with firm determination and courage to face all the ordeals in the continuation of their struggle and in way of achievement of their great goal, the interim PM added.