ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Pakistan day parade of the armed forces will take place on March 23 this year, and which is also expected to be attended by the Chinese President Xi Jinping as chief guest.
However, the venue has not been finalized yet for the joint military parade which is set to take place after a gap of seven years.
“The decision has been made to hold a joint military services parade on March 23,” an unnamed top military source was quoted as saying by Dawn.
The annual parade by the three armed forces is the main event as part of celebrations held on Pakistan day or Pakistan resolution day observed across the country each year on March 23 to commemorate the Lahore Resolution of 1940.
The also reminds us the adoption of Pakistan’s first constitution during the transition of the dominion of Pakistan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on March 23, 1956 making Pakistan the world’s first Islamic republic.
It has been seven years since the Pakistan day parade took place for the last time. Last time, military parade took place in 2008 when General (retd) Pervez Musharraf was in power, and after that it was cancelled for six consecutive years due to security concerns arising from the engagement of military troops in the war against terrorism.
A diplomatic source said that the Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the Pakistan Day parade, adding that both the countries are working out details of his visit through diplomatic channels.
The sources said that contingents of the Pakistan army, navy and air force are expected to arrive in Islamabad soon for parade rehearsals, with stringent security measures in place.
It is pertinent to mention that the US President Barack Obama attended India’s 66th Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26 during his three-day official visit to India.
