Pakistan joined many parts of the world on Wednesday to welcome 2025 with fireworks and festivities. People thronged famous spots in different cities to celebrate the New Year.
A special ceremony was organised at the Governor’s House in Karachi. A screen showed Governor Kamran Tessori making the countdown. Fireworks continued for 40 minutes.
Revellers went to Park View City in Islamabad to see the fireworks while in Sukkur people went near Lansdowne Bridge to see the show.
For people in Lahore though, fireworks were banned earlier in the day, due to air pollution in the city.
On the occasion of New Year 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended his greetings to the entire nation. He expressed his hopes that the New Year will bring development and prosperity to Pakistan.
In his message, PM Shehbaz urged the nation to rectify past mistakes in collective life and embrace new beginnings. He emphasised the importance of starting a bright future, wishing for the year to be marked by the elimination of poverty, war, terrorism, crime, and sectarianism.
While reflecting on the previous year, he noted that 2024 was a year of “remarkable achievements” for Pakistan, with improved economic indicators throughout the year.
Auckland was the first major city to welcome the New Year, with thousands of people counting down and cheering as vibrant fireworks illuminated the sky from the Sky Tower, New Zealand’s tallest structure, accompanied by a stunning downtown light display.
The South Pacific nations are among the first to celebrate the New Year, with New Zealand’s midnight arriving 18 hours ahead of the iconic ball drop in Times Square, New York.
In Australia, the New Year was welcomed with spectacular fireworks launched from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, drawing over a million people to the harbour. The celebration featured British pop star Robbie Williams, who engaged the crowd in a lively singalong.
As the Year of the Snake approaches in the Asian zodiac, it symbolises rebirth, reflecting the snake’s ability to shed its skin. In Japan, where the zodiac is observed from January 1, stores are selling small figures of smiling snakes and various snake-themed merchandise. Other regions in Asia will celebrate the Year of the Snake later during the Lunar New Year festivities.
New Year’s celebrations in Jakarta are set to impress with a stunning fireworks display, featuring an airshow that incorporates 800 drones. The festivities will culminate in countdowns to midnight at the iconic Hotel Indonesia Roundabout.
