RAWALPINDI, March 23: Nation Celebrated the Pakistan Day with great fervor and zeal today. Day dawned with 31 Gun Salute in the Federal Capital and 21 Gun Salute in the Provincial Capitals. Special Prayers were offered in all mosques of the country for the solidarity and well being of Pakistan.Â
Main feature of the day was Armed Forces Parade which was held at Jinnah Sports Complex, Islamabad. President Pervez Musharraf took the salute, reviewed the parade and addressed it eulogizing the services of the Armed Forces in the defence of the country, natural calamities and nation building projects. Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro, Defence Minister, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Services Chiefs flanked the President on the saluting dais.
The Parade was witnessed by thousands of people representing all walks of life. Overflowing enclosures manifested the love, affection and faith people repose in their brave and courageous Armed Forces.
On arrival at the parade venue, President Pervez Musharraf was received by Prime Minister . Smartly turned out contingents drawn from three Services presented Guard of Honour. It was followed by a scintillating fly-past of the PAF combat aircrafts led by Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed. JF-17 thunder fighter aircraft, the manifestation of the Pak-China friendship also participated in the fly-past and maneuvered in front of the stage to the thunderous applause of the audience.
After the President’s address the Parade Commander, Brigadier Ehsan Ul Haq, drove past the saluting dais leading the contingents of the three services bearing National Standards.
Battalions of the Punjab, Baloch, Sindh, contingents of Pakistan Navy, PAF, Armed Forces Nursing Services, Pakistan Rangers Punjab, Police (Islamabad), Special Service Group and marched past the saluting dais.
Contingent of the President’s Body Guard, Armoured Corps, Mechanized Infantry, Heavy Anti Tank Regiment, Artillery, Air Defence, Engineers, Signals and Army Strategic Force Command which included Hatf-II (Abdali), Hatf-III (Ghaznavi), Hatf-IV (Shaheen-1), Hatf-V(Ghauri), Hatf-VI (Shaheen-6) , Babar Cruise Missile and Raad Missile drove past the stands. After the mechanized Columns the Floats from four provinces, Azad Kashmir, Northern Areas, Science and Technology drove past the stands.
Helicopters of the Army Aviation which included Cobra (Gunship helicopters) Ecurecuil, Bell-412, MI-17 and Puma flew past the dais.
Aerobatics by PAF Sherdil team were also another attraction of the parade.
The parade was rounded off with a scintillating and heart warming display of free fall from a height of 10000 feet by the para troopers of Special Service Group of Army, Navy and PAF. Major General Tahir Mahmood, General Officer Commanding Special Service Group led the free fall jumps. People stood on their seats to witness the thrilling display of the parachuting as all participants landed with professional excellence near the saluting dais. President Pervez Musharraf came down the dais, met the paratroopers and appreciated their skill and professional acumen in the field of parachuting and free-fall demonstration. -Inter-Services Public Relations
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