Armed forces paid tribute to the ‘brilliant minds’ on the silver jubilee of Youm-i-Takbeer, which is being observed on Thursday (May 28) to mark the historic day when Pakistan became an atomic power.

“Today, the complete Pakistani nation celebrates the Silver Jubilee of Youm-e-Takbeer and commemorates the remarkable achievement of establishing credible minimum deterrence,” the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement. “This achievement has reshaped the power dynamics in our region.”

Armed forces paid “rich tribute” to the brilliant minds who conceived and achieved the accomplishment under “daunting” challenges. “We salute the scientists and engineers who turned the impossible into a reality. Long Live Pakistan,” it said.

Same spirit needed to attain economic sovereignty: PM Shehbaz

The country’s “defence, sovereignty, national dignity and freedom” were above everything to the nation and “no one had the courage” to take away its freedom, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was quoted as saying in a statement shared by the Associated Press of Pakistan.

“The day reminded that for the defence, solidarity and national interests, they would not budge from any sacrifice,” he said in a message on the occasion of Youm-Takbir.

He said the historic day was a clear declaration of “no compromise” over the country’s sovereignty, and defence.

“Twenty-five years ago today, the people of Pakistan announced the invincibility of their defense by detonating five nuclear explosions in response to India’s nuclear explosions,” he added.

The prime minister stressed that they would have to move ahead with the same spirit as manifested on Youm-i-Takbir to attain economic sovereignty and self-dependence.

He underlined that it was a day to get united for the solidarity of the country as it was the main strength of the nation and expressed his determination that with such unity, hard work, and staunch faith, they would turn Pakistan into “an economic power”.

The prime minister paid tribute to the “patriotism” of the-then prime minister Nawaz Sharif who had “rejected all the pressures and temptations of billions of dollars” and made Pakistan the seventh nuclear world power and the first Islamic country possessing nuclear deterrence.

He also lauded Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the founder of Pakistan’s nuclear programme and also paid rich tributes to Benazir Bhutto Shaheed who, as an opposition leader backed prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s decision to nuclear tests in 1998.

“I want to tell the youth that there were deep political differences between the government and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto but setting aside all the differences for the sake of the country, she supported the government,” he added.

The prime minister said the armed forces of the country had rendered valuable services for the country’s nuclear programme which had been a golden chapter in its history.

He also appreciated Dr Abdul Qadir Khan, (Mohsin e Pakistan), all scientists, engineers and other individuals who contributed to Pakistan’s atomic proramme.

The prime minister also expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia and other brotherly and friendly countries that had helped Pakistan during the economic sanctions.

PM Shehbaz claimed that on May 28, 1998, the whole world was on the other side putting pressure, threats, and giving temptations, but the leadership of the country, with the support of the nation and the opposition, made the impossible, possible.

“We also faced economic difficulties. The unity of the nation is the real nuclear power of Pakistan,” he added.