23rd March 2023 marks the 83rd Pakistan Day and the nation is celebrating the day with a renewed pledge to transform the country as per the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah while ensuring its progress and prosperity.
The day is observed to commemorate the historic Lahore Resolution passed on March 23 in 1940, under which Muslims of the Sub-continent set the agenda of a separate homeland for themselves.
The day dawned with a thirty-one-gun salute in the federal capital and a twenty-one-gun salute in provincial capitals. Special prayers were offered in mosques after Fajar prayers for the progress and prosperity of the country.
Read more: 23rd March: Breaking of long-standing myths
A change of guards ceremony was also held at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal in Karachi and Lahore, respectively.
Pakistan Air Force takes over charge of guard duties at Mazar-e-Iqbal #PakistanDay #23rdMarch pic.twitter.com/A8tsgexBZJ
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) March 23, 2023
Meanwhile, Pakistan Embassies across the world held flag-hoisting ceremonies with Pakistan’s national anthem in the background. Videos of flag-hoisting ceremonies from China, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore etc were shared by the Foreign Office.
Flag Hoisting ceremony at Pakistan Embassy, Republic of Korea on 83rd National Day (March 23rd 2023). @ForeignOfficePk@PTVNewsOfficial
@RadioPakistan @PkPublicDiplo
#PakistanDay2023 pic.twitter.com/FT5FUUeazq— Pakistan Embassy Republic of Korea (@PakinROKorea) March 23, 2023
The main show of the day the joint armed forces parade, which was being held on a limited scale this year due to austerity measures, has been called off due to bad weather. As per the President’s Office, the parade will now be held on March 25.
PM and President’s message on Pakistan Day
In his message to the nation, President Dr Arif Alvi said the day is a reminder to take stock of our successes and failures as a nation.
“Considering our achievements in the past, I strongly believe that we have the ability to overcome the challenges faced by Pakistan today. If we continue to work with unity, faith, and discipline, we would be able to make Pakistan a strong and prosperous country,” the President said in a statement.
Message from President Dr. Arif Alvi on the occassion of Pakistan Day.#PakistanResolutionDay pic.twitter.com/EtUEusnVU9
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) March 23, 2023
On the other hand, in his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged the nation to pay tribute to the sacrifices of the country’s founding fathers but not lose sight of the challenges staring the country in the face.
Read more: 23rd March: The Pakistan’s resolution walk down memory lane
“I have my unwavering faith in the idea of Pakistan to defeat the odds. On 23rd March today, let us awaken the spirit of service to nation,” PM Shehbaz said in his Twitter message.
Living nations put themselves to rigorous audit by comparing their performance to the ideals. This is their way of introspection & accountability. I have my unwavering faith in the Idea of Pakistan to defeat odds. On 23rd March today, let us awaken the spirit of service to nation https://t.co/JKt9wNM1Dv
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 23, 2023