Pakistan Air Force (PAF) joined hands with the nation to celebrate the 65th Independence Day of the country with due fervor and dignity. The day commenced with offering of special prayers in PAF mosques all over the country after the Fajar prayers. Officers, junior commissioned Officers, airmen and the civilian staff of the PAF, later assembled at their respective bases, units and headquarters to sing Pakistan’s national anthem. Air Vice Marshal M Ashfaque Arain, hoisted the national flag at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad and read out the message from the chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt. The air chief in his message assured the nation that the PAF is committed and well-prepared to guard the aerial frontiers of our motherland as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam. He further added that the PAF was relentlessly pursuing its modernization plans to attain the status of one of the best. Similar ceremonies were also observed at other PAF bases and establishments across the country.
Air chief attends Russian Air Force’s centenary celebrations
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt landed back after attending the centenary celebrations of Russian Air Force. The air chief was invited by his Russian counterpart to attend the celebrations that were held on Sunday with a mega air show at the famous Zhukovsky airfield. The airfield is globally known as the venue of the max air show which hosted aerial and static displays of vintage as well as fifth generation combat aircraft of the world. During his short stay, the PAF air chief held a formal meeting with his Russian counterpart and discussed various professional matters, including strengthening of relations between the two air forces. The celebrations also included an international military conference based on the theme, ‘The Sky for All’, in which air power-related topics were discussed. Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt was amongst the very few selected air chiefs who were given an opportunity to address the conference. In his address, the air chief highlighted PAF’s role in the ongoing operations of Pakistan in FATA”. The talk was widely appreciated by all the participants as it also elaborated the sacrifices given by the nation by becoming a bulwark against terrorism. The centenary celebrations of the Russian Air Force also provided a forum where Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt met with the air chiefs of other countries and exchanged views on professional matters.
