ISLAMABAD – The Joint Services (JS) Pakistan Day Parade has been rescheduled on March 25 due to ongoing inclement weather and rains being forecast over the next two days.
“The JS Pakistan Day Parade will now be held on March 25, as per programme and timings already specified,” says a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate on Monday.
The joint military parade by the Armed Forces of Pakistan takes place in Islamabad every year on March 23 to celebrate the birth of a separate state for Muslims of sub-continent. The day commemorates the historic Pakistan Resolution, also known as Lahore Resolution, passed on March 23, 1940 by the All-India Muslim League demanding a separate state for the Muslims of the British Indian Empire.
The personnel of three services including Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force participate in the parade that has been a regular event and is held at Parade Ground near Shakarparian Hills in Islamabad. It is actually a combination of display of military power and show of Pakistan’s folk culture comprising of all federating units along with exciting aerial shows and march-pasts.
The cultural delegates and floats from Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir also participate in the event. The civil and military leadership as well as foreign dignitaries used to attend it.
The day of March 23 usually begins with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad while provincial capitals begin their day with 21-gun salutes. The last year’s Pakistan Day Parade was postponed due to precautionary measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Earlier, the ISPR had also released its public service message on creating awareness among the general public for participating in the parade with strict adherence to the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs). The message highlighted that March 23, was not only Pakistan Day rather a moment of national commitment and resolve demanding the masses to remain firm, resolute and steadfast in all times whereas it was decided to celebrate this year’s Pakistan Day under strict Covid-19 SOPs.
It added that the parade participants were kept in a bio secure bubble to ensure least possibility of viral infection among the troops and other officials partaking in the parade. However, all the visitors were advised to wear masks and use hand sanitizers while entering into the Parade Ground. In order to ensure strict compliance of safety protocols, mask wearing compliance would be checked at all of the entry points of the parade venue. Moreover, use of face masks and hand sanitizers was also being ensured at the entry points of all enclosures of the venue.
Follow the PNI Facebook page for the latest news and updates.
