Youm-e-Tashakkur Observed Across Pakistan to Honour Armed Forces Victory

Today, Youm-e-Tashakkur is being observed nationwide to honour the Armed Forces and citizens of Pakistan for their victory in Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos and Marka-e-Haq against Indian aggression.

The day began with special prayers in mosques and recitation of the Holy Quran to seek blessings for the martyrs and express gratitude for peace and security. A thirty-one-gun salute was fired after Fajr prayers in Islamabad, while a twenty-one-gun salute echoed across provincial capitals, marking the solemn beginning of the day.

Change of guard ceremonies were held at the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi and at the tomb of national poet Allama Iqbal in Lahore. These ceremonies paid tribute to the leaders who laid the foundation of Pakistan.

Special gatherings are also being organised to meet with families of martyrs who laid down their lives during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. Their sacrifices are being honoured through tributes and symbolic events across the country.

The main ceremony of Youm-e-Tashakkur will be held at the Pakistan Monument in Islamabad. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the event as the chief guest, alongside Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Chief of Army Staff.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that a ceasefire between Pakistan and India has been extended till May 18. This development came after hotline talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries.

Dar told the Senate that the original ceasefire, agreed during the first DGMO contact on May 10, was initially set until May 12. It was later extended to May 14, and following fresh discussions between Pakistan’s DGMO Maj Gen Kashif Abdullah and India’s Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, the truce has now been extended to May 18.