84th Pakistan Day being celebrated today across Pakistan

Islamabad: Pakistan Day is being celebrated across the country on Saturday i.e. March 23 with national enthusiasm, at the beginning of the day a 31-gun salute was fired in the federal capital and 21 in all the provincial capitals.

On the occasion of Pakistan Day, today is a public holiday across the country and a parade of armed forces is going on at Shakar Parian Ground in Islamabad, in which President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and chiefs of armed forces are also participating.

Along with the display of war weapons in the Pakistan Day parade, the latest aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will perform a flypast and military troops will present a salute. A large number of people are also present at the Shakar Parian ground to watch the parade of the armed forces.

The chief guest of the Day Parade ceremony, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz, has reached Shakar Parian Ground in Islamabad to watch the joint parade of armed forces.

A solemn ceremony of the changing of the guard was held at Mazar-e-Iqbal in Lahore, in which Air Vice Marshal Tariq Mehmood was the chief guest. Chief Guest Air Marshal Tariq Mehmood placed flowers at Mazar-e-Iqbal and recited Fatiha. The special forces of PAF took over the responsibilities at Mazar-e-Iqbal.

In his special message on Pakistan Day, President Asif Ali Zardari said that he is sure that we will overcome all obstacles unitedly, the whole nation should reiterate its determination for democracy, justice and equality.

He stated: “We are determined to provide all kinds of moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris”.

In his message, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that he is committed to economic recovery and prosperity through integrated policy reforms.

Expressing hope for improvement in the economic problems of the country, he added that it is hoped that the measures will bring economic stability and we will control the current wave of inflation.

Pakistan Army Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Army Chief General Asim Munir, Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and PAF Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu also congratulated the nation on the 84th Pakistan Day.

According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), on the occasion of Pakistan Day, Army Chief General Asim Munir said in his special message that this day reminds of the great efforts of the Muslims of the subcontinent.

He added: “On this day our destiny was determined according to the vision of our great leaders for a separate homeland of Muslims, this day reminds us of the great sacrifices and services of our forefathers in the struggle for the establishment of Pakistan”.

Asim Munir continued to say that this day of March 23 reminds us of the importance and value of freedom, today Muslims in India and Occupied Jammu and Kashmir are facing the worst atrocities at the hands of the fascist government.

The Army Chief said that we value and respect our freedom every day, the armed forces renew their commitment to protect the motherland, sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs.

On the occasion of Pakistan Day, all the preparations for the parade have been completed at Shakar Parian Parade Ground in Islamabad, billboards of pictures of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the poet Allama Iqbal have been installed in the ground. The ground has been specially decorated with beautiful flowers and plants, while special armored vehicles, shields, gifts and presidential cart have also been delivered to the ground.

On the occasion of the parade, 57 horses will be included in the bodyguard squad of the President of Pakistan. In the Pakistan Day parade, war weapons will also be displayed, while the latest JTNC, JF17 Thunders and F16 Flypast of the Pakistan Air Force will be displayed. And military troops will present a salute, women will also be well represented in the parade.

Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, troops from China and Azerbaijan will also participate in the Pakistan Day parade while traditional floats representing the beautiful and diverse culture of the federal units will also be a part of the parade.