Pakistan celebrates National Day with military parade, gun salute

ISLAMABAD: The nation is celebrating Pakistan Day 2019 across the country on Saturday (today) with traditional zeal and a renewed commitment to work hard for the progress and prosperity of the motherland.

Pakistan Day commemorates the passing of the Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940, when when the Muslims of the Sub-continent set the agenda of a separate homeland for themselves.

Day dawned with gun salute

The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad while provincial capitals welcomed the day with 21-gun salutes. Special prayers are offered in mosques after Fajr prayers for the progress, prosperity and solidarity of the country and national flag was hoisted at all major government buildings.

Grand Military Parade

The main feature of the day is the grand military parade in Islamabad where contingents of the three armed forces and the security forces are conducting march past. Various aeroplanes belonging to Army Aviation and Pakistan Air Force will demonstrate aerobatic feats for the audience.

Commandos of the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and Frontier Constabulary will conduct the march-past in their unique style and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will carry out the fly-past.

Similarly, combat and attack helicopters as well as skydivers of airborne units from the three armed forces will also showcase their skills.

The parade showcased cultures of all the four provinces. Cultural delegates and floats from Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir will feature during the ceremony.

Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohammad is the guest of honour at the parade. President Dr Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, ministers, members of the Parliament, the three services chiefs and diplomats also witnessing the parade.

Defence Minister Azerbaijan, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Bahrain and government officials from Oman will also attend the ceremony.

Various contingents from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, China, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Turkey will participate in the Parade.
Fire works at Minar-e-Pakistan

A spectacular display of fire works observed at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore at midnight to mark the day. A huge number of citizens flocked to the scene to be mesmerized.
Change of guard ceremony

Change of guard ceremonies were held at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi and Dr Allama Iqbal in Lahore.

Special prayers will be offered in mosques after Fajr prayers for the progress and prosperity of the country. National flag will be hoisted on all major government buildings.

An investiture ceremony will also be held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in the evening where the President of Pakistan will confer civil awards on individuals demonstrating feats in different fields of science and arts.

One hundred and seventy-one personalities, including some foreigners, have been selected for this year�s awards.

Radio Pakistan, Pakistan Television as well as private TV channels will air special programmes to highlight the struggle of the forefathers for a separate homeland as well as the importance of the Day. While the newspapers will also carry special supplements, highlighting the significance of the day.

Pakistan missions abroad as well different organizations and societies will also arrange functions and ceremonies to commemorate the Day and inculcate a spirit for the progress, prosperity and defence of the country.