On Pakistan Day: Joint military parade to be held after 7-year gap

Venue of event unclear in wake of development works

ISLAMABAD: After a seven-year gap, the government has decided to revive the joint military parade on Pakistan Day. This will be the first time since 2008 that such a parade is going ahead.

A military official on Monday confirmed that the joint parade of the armed forces will take place on March 23. The official did not disclose the venue of the upcoming parade, which in the past used to take place on the Parade Avenue in front of the President House and Parliament.

Security forces engaged in operations in the tribal areas managed to postpone the Pakistan Day parade.

Yet, it is also unclear whether the parade will be held at the same venue because most parts of the Parade Avenue have been dug up for the Metro Bus project.

One official pointed out that the parade is being organised to send out a clear message to militant groups that Pakistan cannot be deterred from its resolve in eliminating all forms of terrorism.

However, another aspect of the parade is the changing regional situation in the wake of recent visit by US President Barack Obama to India where he also become the first American president to attend the Republican Day parade.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2015.