PESHAWAR: Rallies and walks were organised across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday to mark the Youm-i-Takbeer when Pakistan conducted nuclear tests on May 28, 1998.

Women also staged a rally in Peshawar from Hashtnagri to the Balahisar Fort on the GT Road.

The district administration also organised a rally on the GT Road to mark the day.

Traders also took out a rally on the GT Road to express solidarity with the nation on the day when the country detonated nuclear devices in response to nuclear tests by India.

The participants chanted slogans in support of the armed forces.

Speakers at an event urged students to develop a spirit for national unity and work for raising awareness regarding significance of May 28 when Pakistan became the first Muslim country to have a nuclear bomb, thus making its people`s security invincible.

An event showcasing severalactivities was held at a local school, organised by Peshawar Literary Society.

A group of students presented salute to the nuclear scientists and the armed forces.

The event featured a book fair, a painting exhibition, a march past, a defence quiz, and a speech and essay competition.

Meanwhile, rallies and functions were held in Lakki Marwat and Bannu districts to commemorate the historic day of Pakistan`s successful nuclear tests.

The education department with the support of boy scouts` association took out a rally in Lakki city attended by teachers, scoutleaders, students and people from different walks of life.

The participants carried banners highlighting the slogan, `Harnessing nuclear energy Safety for sustainable prosperity`.

Later, the boy scouts` association arranged a function at the Government High School No 2 in Lakki city where students highlighted the importance of the day in their speeches.

In Bannu, the district administration with support of the municipal body organised a rally to commemorate Pakistan`s nuclear tests.

Members of civil society organisations, traders, government employees and municipal workers participated.In Swabi, Pakistan Muslim League-N leaders and workers gathered at the Captain Karnal Sher Khan Chowk, holding placards inscribed with different slogans and carryingpicturesofvariousnational heroes, including nuclear scientist, late Dr Abdul Qadir Khan.

They said it was former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who founded the Pakistan`s nuclear programme, and later Nawaz Sharif led the nation to conduct nuclear tests.

In Lower Dir, different functions and walks were organised to mark the Youm-i-Takbeer with national spirit and zeal.

The district administration in collaboration with the education, youth affairs, sports departments and TMA arranged a function at the District Assembly Hall in Balambat to mark the day.

Additional deputy commissioner Bashir Khan was in the chair.

Timergara assistant commissioner Dr Nida Iqbal, additional assistant commissioner, revenue Tariq Khan, heads of departments, officials of Rescue 1122, civil defence, boy scouts, students and teachers attended the function.

The speakers paid tributes to late scientist Dr Abdul Qadir Khan for making the country a nuclear state.

They also appreciated the role of the armed forces for making Pakistan invincible and vowed thatthey would not hesitate to make any sacrifice for the defence of Pakistan.

In South Waziristan, rallies were held in Lower and Upper South Waziristan districts to mark the Youm-i-Takbeer.

Tribal elders, officials of the district administration and people at large participated in a rally, which started from the AC office Wana and culminated at the deputy commissioner`s office.

Assistant commissioner, Wana, Faisal Ismail told mediapersons on the occasion that the nuclear explosions onMay 28, 1998made Pakistan an invincible state.

On the occasion, Wazir tribal elders said that May 28 was a historic day for all Pakistanis, who stood by the armed forces and other national institutions.

They said that they were ready to make all kinds of sacrifices for the defence of the country.

In Mohmand, a rally was organised to mark Youm-i-Takbeer.

Assistant commissioner, Lower Mohmand, Saddam Hussain Memon led the rally. Officials of the district administration and locals participated.

In Bajaur, rallies, walks and gatherings were held to mark the day.

The main rally was taken out in Khar. It started from the deputy commissioner`s office and ended at the main entrance of the CivilColony. Officials of the district administration, line departments, traders and elders participated in the rally.

Similarly, rallies, walks and events were also held in Khar Bazaar, the major trade centre of the district, and government educational institutions across the district.

Also, the people of Dera Ismail Khan and Tank districts observed Youm-i-Takbeer with great enthusiasm.

A large number of people, including political and civil society activists and officials of the district administrations, participated in rallies and walks to mark the historic day when Pakistan successfully conducted nuclear tests in Chagi district of Balochistan.

Special prayers were also offered for the prosperity, sovereignty and development of the country.

Similarly, Dera district administration organised a rally, which was led by deputy commissioner Mansoor Arshad.

In Charsadda, the district administration and the education department organised a rally and a ceremony to mark the day.

The rally passed through the main bazaar and reached Farooq Azam Chowk.

Events were held in schools, where children presented skits, tableaus and nationalsongs.