Islamabad: A grand and colorful military parade on Pakistan Day was held at Shakarparian Parade where the three wings of the armed forces displayed their exemplary professionalism and military prowess.
The Saudi Arabian Minister of Defense was the guest of honor on this occasion. The parade was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, service chiefs, and other prominent personalities.
The impressive ceremony started with a flyover of fighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force and the Pakistan Navy. The flyover involved the newly introduced J-10 C, home-built JF-17 Thunder, F-16, and Mirage fighters, as well as AWAC, P-3C Orion and ATR.
Contingents of the Pakistan Army, Navy, Pakistan Air Force, Special Services Group, Border Force, Rangers, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, and Gilgit Baltistan Scouts marched around the stage and greeted the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour.
Mechanized convoys including tanks, armored personnel carriers, rocket launchers, air defense systems, guns, UAVs, and short and long-range Ra’ad, Nasr, Babur, Shaheen, Ghauri, and Ababeel missiles were displayed on the occasion. The Corps of Engineers also presented its state-of-the-art equipment.
The parade featured a parade past of helicopters of the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force. Troops from Azerbaijan and China took part in the show.
To the applause of the audience, Sherdils and JF-17 Thunder formations and F-16 fighter jets performed breathtaking aerobatic maneuvers that spread a range of colors in the sky.
The parade included floats depicting the culture of Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, and the four provinces.
This was followed by a flyover by Pakistan Army, PAF, and Navy helicopters.
Divers from the Special Services Group performed a free fall from a height of ten thousand feet, carrying national and service flags. Then the national flag was presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The parade culminated with the performance of a special song on the theme ‘Pochay Jo Naam Koi Tum Pakistan Batana’.