While the nation celebrates Pakistan Day with zeal and fervour, armed forces displayed military might in the annual military parade in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The participants of the 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) watched the exercise as guests of honour.
The Pakistan Day parade, complete with a 31-gun dawn salute, was held amid tight security. Cellular phone networks were blocked as a precaution to thwart any untoward incident.
Military jets looped over the picturesque, low-rise city in the spring sunshine, with a sky-diving team showing off its skills against the backdrop of the Margalla Hills, the forested foothills of the Himalayas.
The nation is celebrating Pakistan Day today with a commitment to ensure progress, prosperity and a strong defence of the country.
The day is observed to commemorate the passage of the historic Lahore Resolution on 23rd March in 1940, under which Muslims of the sub-continent set the agenda of a separate homeland for themselves.
The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and a 21-gun salute in provincial capitals, according to Radio Pakistan.
Special prayers were offered in mosques after Fajar prayers for the progress and prosperity of the country.
The spectacular and colourful Pakistan Day military parade was held at Parade Avenue in Islamabad with three wings of the armed forces displaying their professionalism and military prowess.
The impressive ceremony kicked off with the fly-past of fighter jets of Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy led by Air Chief Zaheer Ahmad Babar presenting a salute to the chief guest President Dr Arif Alvi.
Formations of fighter jets including J-10C, F-16, Mirage and P-3C participated in the fly-past.
Contingents of Pakistan Army, Navy, Pakistan Air Force, Special Services Groups, Frontier Corps, Rangers, Islamabad police marched past the dais presenting salute to the chief guest.
Participants of the OIC-CFM including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi were special guests of the Pakistan Day parade.
The theme of this year’s Pakistan Day is “Shaad Rahy Pakistan”.
