The nation is celebrating 82nd Pakistan Day on Wednesday with the armed forces displaying their full might during the annual military parade held in Islamabad, with envoys and dignitaries participating in the 48th Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) session attending as guests of honour.
The day commemorates the passage of the historic Lahore Resolution which was signed on March 23 in 1940, under which Muslims of the sub-continent aimed for a separate homeland for themselves.
The day began with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and a 21-gun salute in all provincial capitals.
Special prayers were offered in mosques after Fajar prayers for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.
The highlight of the day is the grand military parade in Islamabad, where contingents of the three armed forces and other security forces are conducting a march past while fighter aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) presented a flypast, led by the air force chief.
Fly-past of the newly inducted J-10C fighter jets was the highlight of the parade. The J-10C aircrafts, equipped with cutting-edge technology, were inducted into the Pakistan Air Force’s squadron earlier this month.
Different floats depicting various aspects of culture from different provinces are also part of the parade.
Various organisations and departments have also planned a number of activities including seminars, conferences and discussion programs to highlight the historical significance of Pakistan Day.
The army’s media wing, ISPR, issued a short public message to pay homage to the nation and the father of the nation.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: Dr Arif Alvi, in his message to the nation on the occasion, stressed on independence, national stability, supremacy of law, human and minority rights.
The message, released on the official Twitter account of President of Pakistan, read: “Achieving national freedom is considered as half work. The remaining half, being crucial for a state’s security and stability, is equally important. This includes blending of various ethnic and minority groups into a single nation, ensuring the supremacy of law, eliminating terrorism and internal disturbances, achieving economic growth, promoting good relations with the world and above all, protecting human rights of all the citizens of the state.”
