ISLAMABAD: The government decided to cancel the Pakistan Day Parade during the National Security Committee’s meeting on Friday, as the country reported new cases of coronavirus.
The parade was scheduled to take place on March 23 to commemorate the Lahore Resolution that was adopted on the same day in 1940 and laid the foundation of a Muslim-majority state in South Asia.
The event that is held annually in full media glare is attended by high-profile officials and foreign dignitaries, including Pakistan’s president, prime minister, cabinet ministers, services chiefs and members of the diplomatic community.
It also allows the country’s armed forces to display their war readiness and weapons systems.
This year, a 50-member contingent of Saudi land forces was also scheduled to participate in the celebrations.
The NSC meeting, which was attended by the services and intelligence chiefs along with chief ministers and top advisers, took other preventive measures as well to minimize the possibility of the spread of virus.
The Pakistan Day Parade was also called off in the past while the country was fighting the threat of religious militancy.
Government calls off Pakistan Day Parade amid coronavirus fears
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Government calls off Pakistan Day Parade amid coronavirus fears
- A 50-member contigent of Saudi land forces was scheduled to participate in the celebrations
- The parade was also canceled in the past while the country was fighting religious militancy
Pakistan, Oman navies discuss maritime security, ink agreement to share shipping data
- Visiting Oman royal navy commander calls on Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf in Islamabad
- White shipping agreement refers to exchange of prior information on movement of commercial ships
ISLAMABAD: The naval commanders of Pakistan and Oman discussed regional maritime security on Wednesday and signed an agreement to share shipping information with each other, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
The press release followed a meeting between Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and the visiting Oman Royal Navy Commander Rear Admiral Saif Bin Nasser Bin Mohsin Al Rahbi at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad.
Both navies maintain close professional relations, reflected in expert-level staff talks, joint training, bilateral exercises, and participation in multilateral exercises between the Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional maritime security and bilateral naval cooperation were discussed,” the Pakistan Navy said.
The MoU was signed by both sides at a ceremony at the Naval Headquarters, the navy’s media wing confirmed.
“The MoU is aimed at establishing of guidelines and procedures for information sharing in order to enhance mutual awareness of white shipping,” the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
White shipping agreement refers to the exchange of prior information on the movement and identity of commercial non-military merchant vessels.
Information regarding the identity of vessels helps countries tackle potential threats from sea routes. This particularly helps in the development of a proper regional maritime domain awareness
The statement said Al Rahbi lauded Pakistan Navy’s professionalism and acknowledged its ongoing contributions to maritime security and regional stability.
Pakistan and Oman share geographical proximity and common maritime boundaries. Bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries span a wide range of areas, including economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts and strong defense ties.
In December, a Royal Navy flotilla from Oman visited Karachi to take part in the annual bilateral Thamar Al Tayyib (TAT) 2025 exercise.
Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman have been conducting the TAT series of exercises regularly since 1980.
