RAWALPINDI: The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Monday announced that the Pakistan Day parade on March 23 will now be held on March 25 as the parade has been postponed due to bad weather.

Pakistan Armed Forces Spokesperson said the Pakistan Day parade has been postponed for two days and now it will be held on March 25.

The ISPR said there is a forecast of rains and bad weather for the next two days so the event has been rescheduled to March 25. The ISPR has planned to mark Pakistan Day this year in a befitting manner.

The ISPR has also released the Pakistan Day song ‘Aik Qoum Aik Manzal’ ‘One Nation, One Destiny’ in connection with Pakistan Day (March 23).

The ISPR said on its official Youtube channel, “On 23rd March 1940, Muslims of the Sub-Continent, while exhibiting heights of unity, faith and discipline, passed the historic Resolution for establishment of a separate homeland. Muslims shared one vision and were always one in their resolve against all odds.”

The song; Aik Qaum, Aik Manzil, highlights the very same ideology of unity, resilience and an indomitable resolve of Pakistanis, 81 years later. “Compassion, tolerance, brotherhood and the feeling of oneness is the essence, which consolidates Pakistan into one nation, despite being a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and a multi-religious society,” ISOR said song video description.

Renowned singers, Ali Zafar and Aima Baig, have put their hearts and soul into this song and the lyricist was Abid Hassan, Ali Zafar was composer and music producer was Sarmad Ghafoor and Mazhar Hussain did post-production.

The rehearsal of the Pakistan Day parade was also held in Islamabad on last Friday with Air Force jets performing aerobatic manoeuvres.

Pakistan will celebrate National Day on March 23 after a one-year gap amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year’s parade was cancelled due to the coronavirus spread.

Earlier, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had issued directives for participants in connection with the Pakistan Day Parade.

According to fresh directives, all participants/guests attending the parade had been strictly directed to follow Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Face masks have been made mandatory for all participants attending the Pakistan Day parade0 Every person coming to attend the Pakistan Day Parade would undergo temperature checks while it has been directed to staff to ensure the presence of hand sanitizers/masks at all entry gates of the parade.

The sitting arrangement for guests has been made keeping in view Covid-19 SOPs. NNI