Throughout history, the national flag has always remained dearest to any nation. The national flag symbolizes the existence of a state that encompasses a united country holding collective values. Similarly, the people of Pakistan are very devoted to paying tribute to their flag, and often buy and raise flags on national days. Additionally, in Pakistan, respecting and wearing the national flag is seen as a sign of patriotism among children, youth, and adults. For instance, Dawn reported that in Pakistan, countrywide Independence Day sales were estimated at around Rs 500 million to Rs 600 million despite a 15 to 20 percent increase in flag prices that year.
Previous Flags
In the subcontinent, different ruling emperors adopted different flags for the areas that were to become Pakistan. For instance, in 1526, the Mughal emperor adopted a flag encompassing a green triangle with a yellow sun.
After that, between 1674 and 1818, the Maratha emperor adopted a plain saffron swallowtail flag for those regions. In 1748, when most of the areas of Pakistan were under the rule of the Durrani Empire, the flag was a triangle with emblems and a white sword.
From 1799, when the Sikhs gained control of the region, they adopted a flag called “Khanda.” Khanda is referred to as the combination of a silk triangular orange flag with a double-edged sword. Later, when the British East India Company began to take control, they adopted the Union Flag as the de facto flag of the country. The flag was a red and white alternating striped flag with the Union Flag in the top left corner.
The National Flag of Pakistan
The current national flag of Pakistan was adopted at the Constituent Assembly session held on August 11, 1947, three days prior to the creation of Pakistan. It was designed by Ameer din Kidwai while studying the league’s flag. Later, he presented it to Pakistan’s government for approval.
The flag is a green field, with a white crescent moon and five-rayed star at its center, and a vertical white stripe at the hoist side. The green field represents the Muslim majority population of Pakistan, while the white stripe represents the religious minority population of Pakistan. Additionally, the crescent and star have been traditional symbols of Islam, often symbolizing peace, light, and prosperity.
The flag is particularly designed to depict Pakistan’s commitment to representing the rights of minorities while upholding basic Islamic principles in the state of Pakistan. The flag of Pakistan is also referred to in its national anthem; for instance, پرچم ستارہ و هلال Parcham-e-Sitāra-o-Hilāl (lit. Flag of the Crescent and Star). Furthermore, the design of the flag is fully predicated on the original flag of the Muslim League, which took its inspiration from the Sultanate of Delhi, the Mughal Empire, and the Ottoman Empire.
History of the Current Flag
The history of Pakistan’s national flag has also been mired in various controversies from both pre- and post-independence eras. In the pre-independence era, the controversy arose when Mountbatten, deeming himself an expert on flag proposals, compelled Mr. Jinnah to inculcate a small Union Jack in the flag. This was similar to those of other British dominions, namely Canada and Australia.
However, Mr. Jinnah refused to embrace his proposal, as he deemed it the antithesis of Muslim values. He wanted the flag to reflect the religious and cultural sentiments of the nation. In the 1980s, another controversy arose over who actually stitched the flag. While the government awarded Afzal Hussain the “Pride of Performance,” the family of his deceased brother purported that Altaf Hussain had stitched it. Altaf and Afzal Hussain were tailors in Delhi who worked together on stitching the flag.
However, it was later divulged that when American journalist Margaret Bourke-White visited their shop, she photographed Altaf stitching the flag in his National Guards’ uniform, with Afzal in the background. This photograph was published in Life Magazine’s edition of August 18, 1947.
Furthermore, some claimed that the flag was stitched by Abdul Hakim, who was the tailor of Liaqat Ali Khan. It was later clarified that this was not the flag presented to the Constituent Assembly but rather to Mountbatten on August 29.
When the first resolution was passed on August 11, 1947, some congress members like Bhim Sen Sachar and Dhirendra Nath Datta objected to the resemblance of the flag to the one used by the Muslim League. This was followed by the suggestion of forming a committee to redesign the flag. While reprimanding the proposal, Liaqat Ali Khan retorted that it is neither a religious party flag nor a political party flag.
Additionally, the symbols embedded in the design of the flag still represent all of the communities in Pakistan. Pakistan’s flag was flown internationally shortly after independence. Muslim Boy Scouts at an international event in France improvised a flag, while Shaukat Ali, a student in Prague, also waved a self-made flag on August 15.
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Qirat Mirza is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in international relations from International Islamic University Islamabad. She is also a writer for Modern Diplomacy, International Affairs Forum, Pakistan Today, KIIR, CISS AJK, and Pak Observer. Recently, she completed a six-week internship at the Kashmir Institute of International Relations and the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) to foster her academic insights and gain practical experience.