Pakistan’s National Flag
Each country has its own flag that represents the country. The flag is called the real honor of the country. Pakistan’s national flag is dark green in color having a white vertical bar along with a white crescent in the centre and five pointed star. Everything on the flag has its own meaning – like the green color on the flag tells the majority of Muslims in the country whereas the white portion represents the minorities in the country.
Talking about the crescent in the flag, it represents the progress and the star talks about light and knowledge.
On the flag, the five pointed star and the crescent have been taken from Quaid-e-Azam’s Muslim League’s flag. The fact remains that Lord Mountbatten had suggested that the monogram to be titled 45 degrees to give the crescent enhanced realistic resemblance to the rising moon.
The tailor of Begum Liaquat Ali Khan had stitched the first flag for the country. It was formally presented to the Pakistan Constituent Assembly on 11th August 1947 by Liaquat Ali Khan. Then the assembly approved the flag. The flag was then unfurled after four days in Karachi and four provincial capitals of the country with the booming of the military guns which gave thirty one gun salutes to the new state on the world map.
Pakistan’s National Anthem
Like every country has its own anthem, Pakistan has its own as well and the anthem of Pakistan is the one that simply allures the hearts and mesmerizes the souls. The magical effects of the anthem ignite the patriotism in the souls.
In August 1954, the national anthem of Pakistan was approved. A three stanza composition (5 lines each), it was penned none other than by Hafeez Jallandhari and the composition was scored by Ahmad G. Chagla.
It was penned in Persian language and happens to be reminiscent in spirit. It praises the country as a center of faith and freedom. It tells that Pakistan is a land of beauty and strength. Below are the lines of the anthem translated in English:
Blessed be the sacred land
Happy be the bounteous realm
Symbol of high resolve
Land of Pakistan
Blessed be thou citadel of faith
The Order of this sacred land
Is the might of the brotherhood of the people
May the nation, the country, and the State
Shine in glory everlasting
Blessed be the goal of our ambition
This flag of the Crescent and Star
Leads the way to progress and perfection
Interpreter of our past, glory of our present,
Inspiration of our future,
Symbol of Almighty’s protection.
State Emblem of Pakistan
Every country in the world has its own symbol or emblem that acts as an authorized seal to represent the government or the state. Pakistan too has its own symbol that got approved by the Central Government in 1954. The state emblem of Pakistan can be witnessed on all stationery used in government documents. This symbol symbolizes the ideological foundation of Pakistan, the cultural heritage, the guiding principles plus the basis of Pakistan’s economical strength. State emblem of Pakistan confers recognition to Pakistan’s inspirational source, force and tradition.
On the flag, the green color and the star plus the crescent appear to be the symbols of Islam. The central shield with four partitions depicts the four chief crops of Pakistan – cotton, wheat, tea and jute. These four crops personify that the economy of the country is based on agriculture. On the shield, the garland happens to be the reproduction of the flowery designs which represent Mughal’s traditional legacy of Pakistan. At the bottom, the scroll consists of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam’s popular motto – ‘Faith, Unity, and Discipline’. These words tell the guiding principles for the nation.
Allama Muhammad Iqbal, National Poet of Pakistan
Iqbal’s poetry is what still impresses the people in India and Pakistan even all over the world. His poetry was what gave the boost to the people to fight for a separate country for the Muslims of the subcontinent. His philosophical works further ignited the souls of the Muslims.
He dashed off the poetry in two languages – Urdu and Persian. Iqbal’s prominent literay contributions include: Asrar-i Khudi (1915), Rumuz-i Bikhudi (1918), Payam-i Mashriq (1923), Bang-i Dara (1924), Bal-i Jibril (1935), Zabur-i ‘Ajam (1927), Javid Namah (1932), Musafir (1936), Zarb-i-Kalim (1937), and Armaghan-i-Hijaz (1938).
Iqbal’s interests were in Religion, Philosophy, Art, Politics, Economics, the revival of Muslim life and universal brotherhood of man. Bal-i-Jibril is the most famous book of Allama Iqbal and is still considered to be the gem of Urdu Potery. This book consists of ghazals, poems, quatrains, epigrams and shows the vision and intellect vital to advance the sincerity and solid belief in the hearts of the ummah and turn its members into true believers.
Other famous books of Allama Iqbal include Zarb-i-Kalim, Asrar-i-Khudi, Rumuz-i Bekhudi and others. Scanning and going through Iqbal’s works, it comes up that the poet (Iqbal) had a deeper respect for the religion (Islam), literature, mystical, philosophical and religious tradition.
The National Sport of Pakistan
The national game of Pakistan is hockey and this is the game which is played between the two teams competing with each other to maneuver a ball into the opponent’s net or goal by using a hockey stick.
The fact remains that the Pakistan hockey enjoyed a magnificent past. Till today, the team has been unmatched by any other hockey playing nation in the entire world.
About bagging the World Cup, Pakistani team has won 4 of 11 attempts and won the Champions Trophy for three times whereas the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup got fetched for three times.
The Pakistani hockey team is the one who has won three gold, three silver and two bronze medals in the Olympics.
Chakor, Pakistan’s National Bird
Red-legged partridge, Chakor, happens to be the national bird of Pakistan. Chakor is the bird that belongs to the pheasant family. Chakor is an ashy pink brown partridge having bigger white chin and throat patch which are bordered with black color.
This bird is laced with the flank stripes in black color. Its tail is chestnut sided. Chakor is called the non-migratory terrestrial species that makes the groups outside the season of breeding. In the time of disturbance, Chakor likes to run instead of flying. If flying in necessary, it makes the flying for a shorter distance on rounded wings. Chakor eats seeds and roots.It also takes insects as necessary protein supply.
Sugarcane, National Juice of Pakistan
The national juice of Pakistan is sugarcane juice. Every country is laced with own national juice though the citizen whether prefer to drink or not put there happens to be a national juice of each country in the world. Sugarcane juice is Pakistan’s national juice made of sugarcane. It is much tasty and appears to be mouthwatering.
When served chilled, it appeals a lot.
Sugarcane juice is called ‘raw’ locally. Pakistan is an agricultural country and grows good quantity of sugarcane. It has the bigger sugar industry as well. Thus sugarcane juice is quite popular and is available throughout the year.
Pakistan’s National Tree
Deodar is the national tree of Pakistan. Deodar is called Cedrus Deodara. How this name ‘Deodar’ came? Well, this has been derived from Sanskrit. Deodar got derived from Sanskrit name ‘Devdar’ that means ‘timbreof gods’.
Deodar is the bigger evergreen tree that has the heights around 40-50 metres having a trunk up to three metres in diameter.
Having a conic crown with level of branches and drooping branchlets, deodar is laced with needle like leaves and this tree is grown as an ornamental tree. It is often found and grown in bigger gardens. Deodar acts best in mild winters.
National Flower of Pakistan
Another symbol of Pakistan is the national flower. Well, the national flower of the country is Jasmine or Chambeli, which is called the national flower of Pakistan.
Chambeli is a very gorgeous delicate tiny flower that has white and yellow colors. It grows in clusters in shrubs. It has sparkling leaves and graceful beautiful fragrance. Chambeli blooms in summer season and needs abundance of water, manure and sunshine to flourish.
Chamebli is quite common all over Pakistan. Chambeli also has been the central subject of poetry and been described as a symbol of beauty and purity in poetic verses and works.It also provides the aesthetic adorning to the landscape.
Pakistan Markhor, National Animal of Pakistan
Pakistan’s animal is none other than Markhor. Markhor belongs to the goat family and possesses the unique spiral horns. Marrkhor, the word, has been taken from the Persian language like Mar (meaning a snake) and Khor (meaning eating). Markhor is found in the wooded mountainous regions of the country and gazes grass, leaves and twigs, leaves of trees like Pistacia and evergreen oak.
Markhor is often seen standing on its hind legs. It is witnessed that Markhor’s coat ranges from the grayish light brown to black, which become silken and short in summer and then in winter turn long and thick.
This animal is unfortunately turning died out. Markhor’s main predators happen to be wolf, snow leopard, lynx and intensive hunting. In addition to Pakistan, Markhor is also found in other countries like Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
National Dress of Pakistan
National dress is what that represents and lets the world know about the particular country. Every country has its own distinct costume to represent and the same Pakistan has. Pakistan’s national dress is Shalwar Qameez.
The residents of all four provinces of Pakistan wear this costume called ‘shalwar qameez’. The national dress of Pakistan is found in various styles, fabrics, colours and patterns. Shalwar Qameez is the dress that the people of Pakistan wear on both casual and formal events. It is much comfortable and lets have the comfortability.
Women too wear Shalwar Qameez and they doll it up with dupattas, which happens to be the much essential item for the women of Pakistan to carry along with all dresses to cover the head and the body.
In addition to Shalwar Qameez, Sherwani or Achkan too happens to be the national dress of Pakistan. This one is usually worn by the government officials or head of state in particular in black color.
HIRAN MINAR( SHEIKHUPURA)