ISLAMABAD, Sept 6: Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed, in a special message on the Defence Day, said that the Pakistan Air Force was fully capable to rebuff any threat to the aerial frontiers of the country.

“I would like to reassure my countrymen that Pakistan Air Force is strong, potent and vigilant,” he said.

He said: “We pay our special respect to those who are no longer with us to share their tales of glory.

‘‘To them and to their proud families, we owe an abiding debt of gratitude and reverence.”

Defence Day of Pakistan was celebrated in a befitting manner at all PAF bases throughout the country.

A special feature of the day was the ‘change of guards’ ceremony at the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam in Karachi.

Aviation cadets from the Pakistan Air Force Academy, Risalpur, assumed the guard duties at the mausoleum to honour the traditions set 58 years ago when the Father of the Nation visited Risalpur.

This was the only military academy visited by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Meanwhile, the nation on Wednesday celebrated the Defence Day of Pakistan with traditional zeal and renewed pledge to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country at all costs.

The day dawned with prayers in mosques of the country and army units, naval establishments and air forces bases for the progress and prosperity of the country. Special prayer was offered for the eternal peace of the martyrs who laid down their lives in defence of the country.

The special messages of the services chiefs were read out to troops of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The Hilal-i-Istaqlal was hoisted at Lahore, Sargodha and Sialkot in recognition of the will, courage and perseverance of the people of these cities, who bore the main brunt of the enemy aggression in the 1965 war.

Newspapers brought out special supplements highlighting the importance of the day.

Floral wreath laying ceremonies were held at the mausoleums and monuments of the recipients of the Nishan-i-Haider — Captain Mohammad Sarwar Shaheed, Major Tufail Mohammad Shaheed, Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed, Major Mohammad Akram Shaheed, Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed, Lance Naik Mohammad Mehfooz Shaheed, Sawar Mohammad Hussain Shaheed, Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed, Havildar Llalk Jan Shaheed and Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed.

A large number of people attended the ceremonies.

A floral wreath ceremony was held at the Azad Kashmir Regimental Centre, Manser Camp, to pay homage to Naik Saif Ali Shaheed, Hilal-i-Kashmir (equivalent to Nisan-i-Haider).