ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – The nation celebrated Pakistan Day on Wednesday with a pledge to make the country stronger by wiping out the menace of terrorism, achieving sustainable economic growth and political stability.
The day marks the historic event of 1940, when the Lahore Resolution was passed demanding a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent, dawned with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salutes in provincial capitals.
The highlight of the day is the joint military parade which was held at the Parade Ground near the Shakarparian hills in Islamabad.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President Mamnoon Hussain, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif witnessed the parade, and were later joined by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman on the podium.
Contingents of the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Frontier Corps and Pakistan Rangers held a march-past and performed a salute to President of Pakistan.
The national flag was hoisted atop all government buildings to mark the day, a public holiday.
Special prayers were offered in mosques after morning prayers for the integrity and solidarity of the country.
Pakistan held a similar parade last year to mark Republic Day after a gap of seven years in Islamabad.
Earlier during the day a change of guard ceremony was held by the armed forces at the mausoleum of founding father Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Stringent security measures were taken in view of the military parade.
