Pakistan Day: Armed forces showcase military power at majestic parade

ISLAMABAD: As part of Pakistan Day celebrations, the armed forces showcased their might at the majestic military parade in Islamabad on Wednesday.

President Dr. Arif Alvi attended the parade as the chief guest. Prime Minister Imran Khan, the three services chiefs, and federal ministers were in attendance at the parade ground.

Dignitaries participating in the 48th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) watched the parade as guests of honour.

President @ArifAlvi at the Parade, on the occasion of Pakistan Day. #PMIKatParade #وطن_کی_مٹی_گواہ_رہنا pic.twitter.com/YhYkclyeVi

— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 23, 2022

Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI at the Parade, on the occasion of Pakistan Day. #PMIKatParade pic.twitter.com/TVFFhi001F

— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 23, 2022

The grand parade featured a march by different contingents of the armed forces and fighter planes’ aerobatic manoeuvres. The PAF’s JF-17 Thunder, F-16, and Mirage planes demonstrated their skills. J-10C fighter jets that were recently inducted into the PAF also took part in the parade.

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First time J-10 C flypast on Pakistan Day!#J10C #23rdMarch #PakistanDay #ARYNews #یوم_پاکستان pic.twitter.com/3mFgz8YgGF

— ARY News (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 23, 2022

Sherdils, an aerobatic team of the air force, enthralled the crowd with aerial stunts, painting the sky different colours. After that, the parade showcased different cultures of the four provinces with floats from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Balochistan as well as Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir featuring at the event.

Pakistan Day marks the passing of the Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940 when the All-India Muslim League demanded a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent.

The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and a 21-gun salute in provincial capitals.

In his message on Pakistan Day, President Alvi said that the demand of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent has proved to be politically correct over time.

He said human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and persecution of minorities in India are sufficient grounds to believe that the Muslim leadership of that time had clearly visualised what was in store for the Muslims if they remained at the mercy of Hindu majority in undivided India.

Prime Minister Khan in his message on the occasion stressed the need to adhere to the principles of Unity, Faith and Discipline given by Quid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and to rededicate ourselves to development of Pakistan as a truly democratic welfare State on the model of Riyasat-e-Madina.

He said the incumbent government has brought in long-term reforms and initiatives to alleviate poverty and promote justice.