Pakistan rallies together for Pakistan Day

Mobile services will remain discontinued in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi from 6am to 2pm today

Pakistan Day is being celebrated today with traditional zeal, enthusiasm and determination to strive harder for the country’s prosperity, peace, security and stability.

Ministry of Water and Power has directed all the power distribution companies to ensure that there was no load shedding on the occasion of Pakistan Day celebrations on Monday. According to sources, there would be no load shedding from 6 AM to 9 PM.

The day will dawn with 21-gun salute in the federal capital and 19-gun salute in provincial capitals.

Special prayers will be offered in mosques after Fajr prayers for progress, prosperity and solidarity of the country.

It will be a public holiday and national flag will be hoisted on major government buildings.

Various political, social, religious, educational and other organizations have arranged functions to highlight importance of Pakistan Resolution that paved the way for the creation of an independent homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent.

The main event of the day will be Pakistan Day military parade after a gap of seven years at the newly constructed Parade Ground near Faizabad Interchange tomorrow morning.

An investiture ceremony will be held at Aiwan-e-Sadar in the afternoon tomorrow wherein President Mamnoon Hussain will confer awards and medals on different people for their outstanding performance in different fields.

Radio Pakistan/ PTV and other electronic channels will broadcast special programmes on the occasion and newspapers will publish special supplements.

The preparations in this regard have been completed.

Full dress rehearsal of Pakistan Day parade was held on Saturday in Islamabad at the newly constructed Parade Ground near Faizabad Interchange.

Special Services Group of Pakistan Army enthralled the environment with the slogans of “Allah Hu” whereas female contingent was also exceptional while paying tribute.

Commandos of Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and Frontier Constabulary conducted march-past in their unique style whereas Pakistan Air Force (PAF) carried out brilliant fly-past.

Mechanized Infantry Unit, Light Infantry Commando battalion, Pakistan Army aviation helicopters Bell Helly, MI-17, Cobra gunship helicopter, Puma helicopters fly before the podium.

Floats were also presented to highlight the culture of the four provinces on which regional dance and cultural melodies were played.

Earlier, all the main roads coming to the parade avenue were closed for every type of traffic.

The busiest Murree road, linking Rawalpindi to Islamabad, was sealed through blockades at the point of Shamsabad whereas checkpoints were setup at Airport Chowk, KhannaBridge and Shakrial on Expressway restoring the traffic through alternate routes.

Moreover, the traffic was being moved towards Peshawar Mor and Kashmir Highway by closing the IJP road at the point of double road.

Mobile service was suspended from 6.00 am in I-8, I-9, Faizabad, MargalaTown, RawalTown, Sohan, Zero point, G-6, G-7 and other nearby areas of Parade Avenue.

Security was tightened in Rawalpindi and Islamabad by setting up checkpoints on different places and deploying police and soldiers of Pakistan Army.

A red-alert has been declared in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for the occasion.  Contingents of Pakistan Army and Rangers are patrolling the four kilometres of the Parade Ground.

Close circuit cameras have been installed in different areas of the federal capital whereas the roads leading to the parade ground have been sealed. The traffic heading towards the direction has been diverted towards alternate routes.

According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the roads from KhannaBridge towards Zero Point will be closed for traffic whereas the citizens wanting to reach Lehthra Road, Rawal Dam and Kashmir Road should take alternate routes.

There will be a ban on the entry of heavy traffic in the city, ISPR stated. A special control room has been formed to monitor any suspicious activity throughout the day.

Mobile Services will remain discontinued in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi from 6:00 in morning to 2:00 afternoon today (Monday).

According to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the decision has been made under the security arrangements at the occasion of Pakistan Day parade.