Nation celebrates 84th Pakistan Day with traditional zeal today

The nation is celebrating the 84th Pakistan Day with zeal and fervour today (March 23), with a renewed pledge to make the country stronger by achieving sustainable economic growth and greater political stability.

The day dawned a 31-gun salute in the federal capital, a 21-gun salute in provincial capitals and special prayers in mosques for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan and the liberation of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK).

The nation is paying tributes to leaders of the Pakistan Movement including Father of the Nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and national poet, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal for their matchless services for Pakistan.

The traditional military parade is the mega event of the Pakistan Day celebrations that is underway at the Parade Ground near the landmark Shakarparian hills in Islamabad.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza are the arms show.

Various political, social, religious, and literary organisations will arrange functions to highlight the importance of the Pakistan Resolution that paved the way for the creation of an independent homeland for the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent.

The national flag is hoisted atop of all important and historic buildings which are decorated with colourful lights and buntings to mark the day.

Change of guard ceremonies were held at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi and Dr Allama Iqbal in Lahore.

The day is observed to commemorate the historic Lahore Resolution passed on March 23, 1940, under which Muslims of the subcontinent set the agenda of a separate homeland for themselves.