LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday inaugurated Aviation Exhibition- 2013 arranged by Pakistan Air Force in connection with the Defense Day at Alhamra Arts Council on Friday.
At the inauguration he said that the armed forces of Pakistan set examples of courage and bravery in 1965 and wreaked a crushing defeat on the enemy. He said that Pak army repelled the enemy attack with extreme valour and steadfastness and added a glorious chapter to the world history. He said that the Jawans of Pak Army, Air Force and Navy rendered supreme sacrifices in the defense of their motherland. He said that there is a need to revive the same spirit to counter the challenges facing the country today.
Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, senior officers of Pakistan Air Force, Secretary Information, Commissioner Lahore Division and concerned officers were also present at the event.
The CM said that the sacrifices rendered by Pak Army in 1965 war will be written in golden letters in national history and are deeply valued by the nation. He said that Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy displayed exemplary discipline and professional abilities and defeated an enemy which was three times bigger. He said that the nation also displayed commendable spirit and stood by its armed forces in the defense of the motherland. He said that there is a need to revive the spirit of 1965 war and move ahead to make Pakistan a truly sovereign and dignified country in the comity of nations. Shahbaz Sharif said that the war against poverty, unemployment, injustice, corruption and terrorism has to be won at any cost to translate Pakistan into the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. He said that peace is essential for progress and development and the nations which remained at loggerheads in the past also achieved the goal of progress through mutual harmony and peaceful coexistence. He said that the valiant Jawans of Pak army laid down their lives in the defense of geographical frontiers of their country. Adding that the nation had high hopes of its armed forces and expect that it will defend the motherland with the same spirit as was shown by it in 1965 war while defense of ideological frontiers of Pakistan is a collective national responsibility.
Documentary films were also shown on this occasion. The Chief Minister gave souvenirs to Group Captain (r) Masood Akhtar Hussaini and others for their paintings displayed at the exhibition. Earlier, Deputy Air Chief Marshal (Training) Saeed Muhammad Khan presented address of welcome.