Live: Pakistan Day celebrations begins with military parade

ISLAMABAD: The nation is celebrating the 77th Pakistan Day, March 23 in a befitting manner with a military parade in Islamabad.

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

11:00

Hum Sub Ka Pakistan - Special Pakistan Day song

10:54

COAS Gen Bajwa and CAS Air Marshall Sohail Aman appreciating the performance of troopers

10:37

Pakistan built JF-17

10:30

PAF's Sherdils

10:23

Pakistan Army Aviation

10:13

"Kashmir Jannat Nazeer"

10:00

Turkish Mehtar Band sings Pakistan national anthem. This is the oldest military band of the world, which was established in 1299.

09:53

Strategic Planing Division:

Shaheen missile

Ghauri

Babur

Buraq UAV 

09:48

Floating bridge - can be laid down in an hour

09:44

Chinese-built Low to Medium Altitude Air Defence System (LOMADS) LY-80 participated for the first time in the parade. The air defence system was inducted earlier this month into Pakistan Army.

09:42

GIRAFFE Radar system

09:38

Fire finder radar

09:34

Al-Zarrar tanks - produced at Heavy Industries Taxila

09:30

The unshakable - Al-Khalid tank named after Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed

09:25

The contingent of Chinese Armed Forces participating for the first time. They raised slogans of Long-live Pak-China friendship in Urdu.

09:23

Saudi contingent

09:20

Allah Hu - Special Services Group

09:15

Pakistan Police contingent

 

09:08

President Mamnoon and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the stage

09:05

March past begins

08:53

President Mamnoon: I congratulate all the participants and the special guests present here. We are a peaceful nation but India with its aggressive attitude has jeopardized the environment. We are open to dialogue with India on all the disputes including Kashmir.

President Mamnoon Hussain is the chief guest, who arrived at the venue in a horse drawn Buggi, escorted by traditional unit of President’s body guards.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif received the President at the Shakarparian Parade Venue.

Present on the dais included, Defence Minister, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Vice Chief of Air Staff, representing Chief of Air Staff who lead the PAF fly-past.

The impressive ceremony kicked off with a splendid fly past of aircraft of Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy led by Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman.

Special feature of the parade this year will be participation of the People’s Liberation Army (China’s Tri Services), Saudi Special Force’s contingents and Turkish Jannisary Military band.

In the annual parade, the participating troops will include foot columns of Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, PAF, Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary, Northern Light Infantry, Mujahid Force, Islamabad Police, Tri-Services Lady officers, Tri-Services Armed Forces Nursing Service, Girls Guide, Boys Scouts, Special Service Group from the three services, mechanised columns of Armored Corps, Artillery, Army Air Defence, Signals, Engineers, Army Strategic Force Command, Camel Band and President's Body Guard.

Civil organizations will also show their material presence at the Parade by exhibiting floats depicting developments achieved by the country besides the regional culture and heritage.

Amongst other dignitaries Chief of South African National Defence Force General Solly Zacharia will also witness the parade.

On the occasion, President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said, "March 23rd is an unforgettable day of our national history.”

“On this day, we find that our focus and impregnable unity which not only identified the destination but also helped us to achieve it in the shape of Pakistan.” “Though in the Allahabad address by Allama Muhammad Iqbal the contours of that destination had been earmarked but it found its expression and consensus on 23rd March.”

“This day reminds us that with steely determination and unity under an honest leadership, the ostensibly unachievable targets can be easily achieved.”

“We are grateful to Allah that today the people of Pakistan have regained their lost identity. While during the last three years the army, security agencies and people have rendered sacrifices to make Pakistan a cradle of peace, the government has maintained its focus on accelerating economic prosperity and progress.” By the Grace of God today's Pakistan is a democratic country.