Islamabad : The magnificent and colourful Pakistan Day Military parade was held at Shakarparian parade avenue with the three wings of the armed forces demonstrating their exemplary professionalism and military prowess.The Saudi Defense Minister was the guest of honour on the occasion. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the services chiefs and other prominent figures attended the parade.
The impressive ceremony kicked off with the fly past of fighter jets of Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy. Newly inducted J-10 C, indigenously built JF-17 thunder, F-16 and Mirage fighter jets as well as AWACs, P-3C Orion and ATR participated in the fly past. Contingents of Pakistan Army, Navy, Pakistan Air Force, Special Services Group, Frontier Corps, Rangers, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police and Gilgit Baltistan Scouts marched past the dais presenting salute to the chief guest and the guest of honor.Mechanized columns including tanks, armored personnel carriers, rocket launchers, air defense system, guns, UAVs, short and long range missiles Ra’ad, Nasr, Babur, Shaheen , Ghauri and Ababeel were showcased on the occasion. Engineering corps also presented its state of the art equipment.The parade featured the march past of the helicopters of Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force. The troops from Azerbaijan and China participated in the parade.Amidst applause by the audience, formations of Sherdils and JF-17 Thunder and F-16 fighter jets presented breathtaking aerobatic maneuvers spreading a range of colours in the skies. Floats depicting culture of Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and the four provinces were part of the parade.This was followed by the fly past of helicopters of Pakistan Army, PAF and Navy.The sky divers of Special Services Group exhibited free fall from a height of ten thousand feet, carrying national flags and those of services. Afterwards, the national flag was presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The parade culminated with presentation of a special song themed ‘Pochay Jo Naam Koi Tum Pakistan Batana’.
