**Pakistan Day Being Celebrated with Traditional Zeal**
The nation is celebrating Pakistan Day today (Sunday) with a renewed pledge to transform the country into a true Islamic and welfare state, following the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Pakistan Day commemorates the Lahore Resolution, passed on March 23, 1940, and the adoption of Pakistan’s first Constitution on March 23, 1956, which declared Pakistan the world’s first Islamic Republic. The Pakistan Resolution, adopted by the All-India Muslim League led by Quaid-i-Azam M.A. Jinnah at Minar-e-Pakistan Lahore, called for the creation of an independent federation named Pakistan. This federation would comprise provinces with a Muslim majority in the north-western and north-eastern regions of British-controlled India.
The day began with a thirty-one-gun salute in the federal capital and twenty-one-gun salutes in the provincial capitals.
Special prayers for the country’s progress and prosperity were offered in mosques after Fajr prayers.
A key event of the day is the Pakistan Day Military Parade, being held on a limited scale at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad due to the month of Ramadan.
President Asif Ali Zardari will be the chief guest. The parade will feature contingents from all three armed forces.
Pakistan Air Force fighter jets will perform a flypast.