ISLAMABAD: The nation celebrated the Pakistan Day on Thursday with a renewed pledge to transform the country into a true Islamic welfare state in line with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and to ensure its progress, prosperity and a strong defense.

The day is observed to commemorate the historic Lahore Resolution passed on 23rd March in 1940, under which Muslims of the Sub-continent set the agenda of a separate homeland for themselves. The day dawned with thirty-one-gun salute in the federal capital and twenty-one-gun salute in provincial capitals. Special prayers were offered in mosques after Fajar prayers for progress and prosperity of the country.

Due to bad weather Pakistan Day Military Parade of the Armed Forces at Aiwan-e-Sadr was postponed till Saturday. President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif felicitated the entire nation on the occasion of Pakistan Day and expressed confidence that Pakistan has the ability to overcome the challenges it face by adhering to the golden principle of unity, faith, and discipline.