ISLAMABAD The 43rd Defence day of Pakistan was celebrated throughout the country with renewed pledge and commitment to defend the ideological and geographical boundaries of the country  and to commemorate the fallen heroes of the September 1965 War.

In connection with the Defence Day, a ceremony was held at the Airbase Chaklala here on Saturday.

Main event of the ceremony was the Defence Static exhibition in which, defence equipment were displayed and aerial demonstrations of the F-16 fighter jets was also held.

Air Vice Marshal Faiz Amir was the chief guest on the occasion, joined by airbase officers, JCOs, airmen. Also present at the ceremony were the hundreds of school children and families who attended the ceremony with great zeal.

Despite the Holy month of Ramazan, the pubic and school children evinced keen interest and enthusiasm and turned out in great numbers at the airbase. Children of Fizaia Inter College Chaklala and Fizaia Inter College Jinnah Camp performed national songs and received great applause from the audience.

The acrobatic air show of F-16 fighter jets was the main event of the celebrations in which the pilots of Pakistan Air Force exhibited their expertise and extraordinary manoeuvring capabilities.

Speaking on the occasion, Air Marshal Faiz Amir said that while the nation stood like a rock at this critical time in history, its sons in uniform-soldiers, sailors and airmen wrote with their blood the golden chapters of national history.

They fought with courage, valour, dedication, determination and exceptional professionalism and set the highest standards of commitment, honour and bravery, he said referring to the 1965 War.

He said that Pakistan Air Force fought aggressively and remained on offensive throughout the 17 days war. After gaining air superiority in the first four days of the war it provided support to land operations from Kashmir in the north to Rajastan in the south, he added.

He presented salute to Sqn Ldr Sarfraz Rafiqui, Sqn Ldr M M Alam, Sqn Ldr Syed Sajjad Hyder, Flt.Lt Cecil Chaudhry, Flt.Lt Imtiaz Bhatti and all those set the finest of our tradition in sacrifice and professionalism.

Air Vice Marshal Faiz Amir said that the Defence Day of Pakistan is celebrated with the same spirit and fervour as it was shown in the 1965 war by our nation and armed forces of Pakistan.

We are celebrating it to pay homage to those who sacrificed their lives for cause of the country, he said and adding that it is the day to renew the pledge to inculcate the spirit among the young generation.