On this day, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pays tribute to a defining moment in its history: the April 13, 1948, visit of the Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, to the RPAF Training School (now the PAF Academy) at Risalpur. It was here that Jinnah laid down the “uncompromising” strategic directive that continues to guide the force’s evolution in the 21st century.
As the PAF remains on high alert during the ongoing Islamabad Talks and the fragile US-Iran ceasefire, the Quaid’s vision of an “efficient Air Force” remains the bedrock of Pakistan’s regional deterrence.
Today in History
13 April, 1948 — a defining dawn in the making of Pakistan Air Force. At RPAF Training School Risalpur, the Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, witnessed the Passing-out Parade of a new generation of air warriors, received by Wing Commander… pic.twitter.com/yZXgWy77yb
— DGPR (AIR FORCE) (@DGPR_PAF) April 12, 2026
The Historic Parade: A Torch Passed
The 1948 Passing-out Parade was a symbolic turning point for a fledgling nation.
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The Meeting of Giants: The Quaid was received by Wing Commander Asghar Khan, who would later become the first Pakistani Commander-in-Chief and the architect of the modern PAF.
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The Clarion Call: Facing the first generation of Pakistani air warriors, Jinnah delivered his most famous military directive:
“There is no doubt that any country without a strong Air Force is at the mercy of any aggressor. Pakistan must build up her Air Force as quickly as possible. It must be an efficient Air Force, Second to None.” (Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah)
Analysis: The Legacy of Sovereignty
Jinnah’s 1948 address was delivered at a time when Pakistan lacked even basic spare parts. Decades later, the PAF is a global leader in indigenous fighter production (JF-17) and advanced pilot training. This “pursuit of excellence” is not merely about hardware; it is about the “iron resolve” of the air warriors who, as Jinnah envisioned, stand ready to defend the nation’s frontiers at all costs.
