KARACHI: The roar of jet engines makes the person on the ground look up just in time to see fighter jet rip through the sky. The heart beats faster to match the rhythm of the beat. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilots briskly stride towards their aircraft. Then as they soar to the skies so does their country’s honour.

To commemorate the second anniversary of Operation Swift Retort, the Directorate General Public Relations (Air Force) on Friday released a new national song, Sadaa-i-Pakistan, that pays tribute to all the brave sons of the soil who took on the enemy in the skies in 2019.

It was on February 27, 2019, when PAF exhibited supreme professionalism by shooting down two Indian Air Force jets, a MiG-21 Bison and a SU-30. The downed MiG-21 pilot, wing commander Abhinandan, whose aircraft had crashed inside Pakistan’s territory was captured.

The prisoner of war was later released as a gesture of peace and goodwill by the Pakistan government.

Written by Shahzad Nayar, the song has been sung by Ali Hamza of the rock band Noori. The video has also been picturised on him and is directed by Zohaib Kazi.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2021