Independence Day

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Pakistan’s  independence day (also known as Yom-e-Istiqlal  is observed on 14 August, the day before Pakistan was made an independent country based on border lines created by the British during the end of their rule of India. Pakistan became an independent country in 1947. The day is a national holiday in Pakistan. The day is celebrated all over the country with flag raising ceremonies, tributes to the national heroes and fireworks taking place in the capital, Islamabad. The main celebrations takes place in Islamabad, where the  President and Prime Minister raise the national flag at the Presidential and Parliament buildings and deliver speeches that are televised live. In the speech, the leaders highlight the achievements of the government, goals set for the future and in the words of the father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam, bring "Unity, Faith and Discipline" to its people.

Independence of Pakistan was officially announced on Friday, August 14, 1947 at 12:00 a.m. but the ceremony itself took place half an hour early on the actual day This day is celebrated 1 day earlier in comparison to India even though independence was granted by the British Raj to both countries at midnight on 15 August 1947.

Independence Day was not celebrated on 14 August 2010 as a show of moral support to those affected by the 2010 Pakistan floods. All official Military and Government events that are traditionally held on this day were also scrapped to divert the expenditure incurred by these events to flood relief.