ISLAMABAD: Following directives of Senate, city managers will visit Chand Tara Chowk near Shakarparian to pay tribute to martyred wing commander Nauman Akram.

Akram sacrificed his life last year on March 11 during rehearsal of the Pakistan Day parade in an F-16 aircraft. A monument will also be constructed at the site to honour him.

An officer of the Senate said during a Senate sitting last month, a resolution was passed in recognition of services of the martyred wing commander.

The resolution stated: “This House [Senate] honors his sacrifice and recommends that ‘Chand Tara Chowk’ near Shakarparian, Islamabad be named as Wing Commander Nauman Akram Shaheed (Sitara-i-Basalat) chowk.”

The said resolution was unanimously moved by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla on his own behalf and on behalf of over a dozen senators. The officer said that the Senate Secretariat sent the resolution to Ministry of Interior and Capital Development Authority (CDA) for further action on it.

Sources said the said proposal will be placed before the CDA board for final approval. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) or CDA will construct a monument at the site.

They added that although the CDA board would take the final decision, there is no need to remove the chand tara and the monument could be constructed near the chowk. However, if the need arises, it will be removed. After approval of the summary from board, the CDA will hold a meeting with PAF for design of the site, they added.

An officer of the CDA said the pilot did not eject to save his life and till the last moment, he continued attempting to pull out the jet and lost his jet and life in the process. If the pilot had ejected, the plane could have crashed in the city area, but he sacrificed his life and saved the lives of others. Besides construction of the monument, a model of the jet should also be displayed at the site.

The chowk is located on Garden Avenue near Aabpara in front of the Pak China Centre.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2021