PAF jets light up skies in twin cities ahead of Marka-i-Haq anniversary

ISLAMABAD: Residents of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday witnessed a spectacular aerial display by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets during a rehearsal for an official ceremony to be held on Sunday (tomorrow) to commemorate the first anniversary of Marka-i-Haq.

Sources told Dawn that the top civilian and military leadership was expected to attend the ceremony to be held at the National Monument at Islamabad’s Zero Point to celebrate the Pakistani forces’ last year victory against India.

As part of the rehearsal, the venue of the event also remained illuminated with laser lights for a brief time.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) notified in a notice to airmen (Notam) that the flight operations at the Islamabad airport might be affected due to “operational reasons” from Friday to Sunday.

The Notam said flight arrivals and departures could be delayed because of “operational” reasons between 8pm and 9:15pm on Saturday and Sunday.

It further stated that flights arriving at the Islamabad airport had been asked to “bring sufficient holding fuel to cater to the delay”.

The PAA had issued a similar Notam for the airport in the federal capital in March as well. It said flight operations at Islamabad airport would be suspended for two hours on March 17 due to “operational reasons”.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2026