Official Invitation & Programme for the Shah of Iran's visit to Pakistan, 1950

Pakistan's first official visit after Independence from the country that was the first to recognise it's new status

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This is a rare original invitation and programme for the Ceremonial March Past held in honour of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, during his state visit to Pakistan in March 1950. This was the first ever state visit to Pakistan by a foreign head of state after its independence in 1947, with Iran being the first country to recognise Pakistan after Independence.

The Invitation: Printed on card with the gilt crest of Pakistan's Ministry of Defence, this invite was issued to Sqn Ldr P L Kelly, who had been seconded to the Royal Pakistan Air Force. Printed instruction and seating details to the reverse. The event was to be held on 2nd March 1950 at Jinnah Courts.

The Programme: This is again decorated with the Ministry's crest, and opens to a photographic portrait of the Shahinshah of Iran. This is followed by the programme and mentions other guests: Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan, General Sir Douglas Gracey (Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army), and Rear Admiral J.W. Jefford (Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Pakistan Navy), and Air Vice-Marshal R L R Atcherley (Air Commander, Royal Pakistan Air Force). Then the march past (Navy, Army, Air Force, Mechanised Column, Massed Pipe Bands (including the Baluch Regiment and the 14th & 15th Punjab Regiments). And finally, the programme of music which consists of tunes from both Europe and Paksitan (Hearts of Oak, Blue Bonnets of the Border, a Pathan march—Zakhmi Dil, Awaz de kahan hai etc).

Until 1967, Karachi was the capital of Pakistan. The Shah's visit lasted two weeks and included tours of various cities, but this military parade in Karachi was the centrepiece of the trip.

Condition

Both items have tanning and finger-marking to the edges, but remains an important piece of Pakistan's history and a landmark official visit from another state.