Daily Times

KARACHI: The 77th Pakistan Day was celebrated across the country with traditional zeal and enthusiasm. The day dawned with 31 gun salutes in federal capital Islamabad and 21 gun salutes in the provincial capitals which include Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.

The joint armed services parade was held near Shakarparian in Islamabad on account of 77th Pakistan Day. President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Staff Air Marshal Vice Chief = Asad Lodhi, Naval Chief Admiral Zakaullah, Joint Chief of Staff Committee Chairman Zubair Mehmood Hayat were present in the parade.

Special feature of the parade this year was participation of People’s Liberation Army China’s Tri Services, Saudi Special Force’s contingents and Turkish Janissary Military band. Civil organizations also showed their material presence at the parade by exhibiting floats depicting developments achieved by the country, besides the regional culture and heritage.

The ceremony commenced with the singing of the national anthem, after which the president observed the parade from a jeep. Chinese and Saudi troops and a Turkish military band also featured at the event. The parade also included marches by the Saudi Special Forces, who were represented by the Saudi Land Forces, as well as the Tri Services People’s Liberation Army of China. Contingents of Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Frontier Corps and Pakistan Rangers held a march-past and a salute to the president of Pakistan.

Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Chief Sohail Aman led the fly-past of the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy aviation followed by recitation of verses from the Holy Quran.

In Punjab, a wonderful display of fireworks lit up the sky as the clock struck midnight in Lahore which was decorated with colourful lighting. A change of guard ceremony was held at the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal in Lahore. A regiment of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) took charge of guard duties at Mazar-e-Iqbal. Pakistan Air Force Commodore Salman Mehboob was the chief guest on the occasion.

While celebrating Youm-e-Pakistan, Pakistan Rangers Punjab gifted sweets to Indian Border Security Force personnel at the Wagah border today. The traditional ceremony took place at mid day with zeal and enthusiasm with distribution of sweets at Joint Check Post Wagah.

In Sindh, Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair, along with Sindh Cabinet members, on Thursday visited the mausoleum of the Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, to pay homage to the great leader on Pakistan Day. The political parties held various programs across Sindh to celebrate the day.

They laid floral wreaths on the Mazar, offered Fateha, and prayed for the prosperity, development and integrity of the country. The governor also marked his impressions in the visitor’s book and paid glowing tribute to the founder of Pakistan. On this occasion, Zubair urged entire nation to work for prosperous and peaceful Pakistan by fulfilling the dream of Quaid-e-Azam.

The day is celebrated in the memory to commemorate the event when the Muslim League adopted the Pakistan Resolution at the Minar-e-Pakistan that called for establishing an independent federation comprising provinces with Muslim majority located in north-western and north-eastern region of British controlled territories in India on 23 March 1940. Since then, the day is celebrated annually at the national level as a public holiday. The armed forces of Pakistan commonly hold a military parade for the celebration of the event.