The 79th Pakistan Day was celebrated across the country on Saturday with traditional zeal and fervour.
The day began with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad whileprovincial capitals marked the celebration with 21-gun salutes. Thechange-of-guards ceremony was held at the mausoleum of poet and politician,Allama Iqbal, in Lahore, Dawn news reported.
Pakistan Air Force troops took over guard duty at Iqbal’smausoleum where Air Commodore Rizwan Malik was the chief guest.
The Pakistan Day military parade will be held at ParadeGround near the Shakarparian hills in Islamabad to mark the day.
The parade will be attended by the civil and militaryleadership as well as foreign dignitaries. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad,who arrived on a three-day visit to Pakistan on Thursday, will also attend asthe guest of honour.
According to Radio Pakistan, an award ceremony will also beheld at the President House in the evening, where about 171 people, includingcivilians and foreign citizens will be awarded for achievements in variousfields including science and technology, by President Arif Alvi.
Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Alvi, in separatemessages , stressed the “need to achieve the goal of true Islamic welfarestate as envisaged by Muhammad Ali Jinnah”.
Khan said the government was determined to establish asociety where every person can contribute towards socio-economic development tothe best of his ability.
President Alvi said that Pakistan has overcome thechallenges of extremism and terrorism but acknowledged the country was yet tomake efforts for excelling on social and economic fronts.
Pakistan Day commemorates the passing of the LahoreResolution on March 23, 1940, when the All-India Muslim League demanded aseparate nation for the Muslims of the British Indian Empire.