ISLAMABAD: The joint military parade by the armed forces of Pakistan took place today in Islamabad after a gap of seven years, to commemorate the historic Pakistan Resolution on March 23, 1940 – a day which marks the the birth of a separate state for Muslims. Personnel from all three services, Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force, participated in the parade.

The last parade which took place in the federal capital was on March 23, 2008, reviewed by Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf as a civilian president, but was discontinued owing to ‘security concerns’

The joint military parade had been a regular event with display of military power and show of Pakistan’s folk culture, which captured the imagination of the public quite like the traditional parade, with its impressive march-pasts and aerial shows.

This year’s event took place at the new Parade Ground, specially built near scenic Shakarparian. In the past, the parade was held on Parade Avenue in front of Parliament House and before that, at the Race Course in Rawalpindi.

Contingents of the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force,Pakistan Navy, Frontier Corps and Pakistan Rangers held a march-past and performed a salute to President of Pakistan.Pakistan Army’s tanks, including Al-Khalid and Al Zarrar tanks, also perform gun salute in front of the chief guest on the occasion.

President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain delivered a speech to the participants of the parade in which he paid tribute to those who had lost their lives in the Taliban attack on Army Public School on December 16, 2014. He also said that Pakistan desired relations with India on the basis of equality and added that the issue of Kashmir needs to be resolved according to wishes of the Kashmiri people.

President Mamnoon also announced the good news that regarding the United Nations’ approval of the extension of Pakistan’s seabed territory from 200 to 350 nautical miles.

Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sohail Aman leads a fly-past of Pakistan Air Force jets presented to President Mamnoon Hussain over the parade venue.

A 31-gun salute was fired before sunrise to commemorate Pakistan Day in the federal capital city. Similarly 21-gun salutes were fired in the provincial capital cities.

Cellphone and wireless Internet services remained suspended as part of security measures in Islamabad. Activities including wedding ceremonies, fireworks displays, celebratory firing, kite-flying and pigeon-flying have been strictly banned in the capital.