ISLAMABAD, Sept 5: The 41st Defence of Pakistan Day is being observed with traditional zeal and solemnity throughout the country today. Special Fauji Melas are scheduled in all major garrisons of the country.

In this regard, a full dress rehearsal of a Fauji Mela was held at Race Course Ground Rawalpindi on Monday. The event was open for the general public.

The Defence Day activities also feature ground and air shows of PAF aircraft at PAF Bases Masroor (Karachi), Lahore, Peshawar and Chaklala (Rawalpindi). All PAF fighter jets and other allied equipment are on display during the show which is open for public from 9:30am to 5:30pm.

Strict security measures have been taken for the security and safety of public.

Meanwhile in his Defence of Pakistan Day message issued here on Tuesday, President General Pervez Musharraf said that the day “symbolises the importance that the nation attaches to safeguarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.”

“The aggression faced 41 years ago made us conscious about the need to strengthen the defence of our country at all costs,” said the president, paying homage to the martyrs and ghazis of the September war.

“We realised that big countries seeking to impose their hegemony paid little heed to international laws and could violate the sanctity of borders of smaller neighbours with impunity. The answer lay in being strong enough to deter aggressive designs of the adversary. We needed to posses the capability to protect our integrity safeguard our economic and other vital interests,” he said.

Pakistan had come a long way since 1965, he said, adding that the country now had an impregnable defence.

“As we commemorate the Defence of Pakistan Day, let us pledge that the national unity and identity which we discovered in 1965 would be nurtured and strengthened with every passing year,” he said.

In his message on the occasion, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said: “Today we are observing the Defence of Pakistan Day. This is the day when our valiant armed forced repelled an attack by a better-equipped and many times bigger enemy. Our most effective weapon in that war was the golden principles of unity, faith and discipline.” He paid homage to the martyrs and ghazis of the September war.

He said in modern times, economic consolidation and self-reliance in armaments were the real strength of a nation for its defence.

“By the grace of Allah Almighty, Pakistan is now a nuclear power and we are among the exporters of defence equipment. Our missile and space programme too is progressing very satisfactorily. On all these successes, I salute our armed forces, engineers and technicians. It is because of their dedication and sincere efforts that Pakistan reached this stage,” he said.

“Along with the self-reliance in defence matters, the present government is labouring day and night to maintain the pace of economic development to enable the fruit of progress to reach the people and to encourage and strengthen democratic institutions. This is so because, to join the comity of nations today, it is imperative to attain self-reliance and consolidation in very sphere of national life,” he said.—Agencies