Pakistan, a country of almost 24 million resilient people, carries its set of national symbols like a crown. Contributing to its core identity, these symbols’ significance further increases when you learn the great histories behind them, representing our values, traditions, and ideologies. Let’s take a look at some of these national symbols that unite our people across ages.
National Hero
Pakistan’s national hero is none other than the most deserving, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Also known as ‘Baba-e-Qaum’, meaning the ‘The Father of Nation’ (for the Indian Muslims), Jinnah was born on December 25, 1876, in a high-up merchant family in Karachi. He got his education from Sindh Madrassat-ul-Islam and the Christian Mission School, and got his Barrister’s degree from the Lincoln’s Inn Law School in London. He became a renowned leader of the Indian independence movement after joining the Indian National Congress in 1906. Afterwards, he joined the Muslim League in 1913 and started his political struggle as the leader of the Indian Muslims – a struggle culminating in independence for Muslims in 1947 in the form of Pakistan. Jinnah became the first Governor-General of the independent Pakistan, holding the title until his death in 1948.
National Poet
Allama Muhammad Iqbal, who also has been a renowned scholar, politician, and philosopher, is the national poet of Pakistan. It was he whose poetry reinvigorated the souls of Indian Muslims and inspired them to strive for an independent homeland. Born in Sialkot, Punjab, on November 9, 1877, Iqbal earned his BA from Government College, Lahore; MA from Trinity College, England; and PhD from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, in 1908. He wrote 12000 poetic verses in Persian, Urdu, and Punjabi languages, along with three books in English Language based on philosophy, Islam, and economics, respectively. His other significant contribution was his Allahabad address of 1930, which gave Muslims a direction tied to their separate identity. Unfortunately, he couldn’t remain alive to see his dream come true as he died on April 21, 1938, at the age of 60.
National Mother
If Jinnah is the Father of the Nation then his sister, Fatimah Jinnah, is considered the ‘Mother of the Nation’ or ‘Madr-e-Millat’ in the local lingo. A dental surgeon, a stateswoman, and a politician, Fatima Jinnah has shown women that they can stand up for themselves and others, shoulder by shoulder to men. She led the women’s wing of Pakistan movement with valor and perseverance, establishing herself as a role model, particularly for women in the region.
Born on July 31, 1893, in Karachi, Fatimah Jinnah was Quaid’s youngest sister. She got her education from Bandra Convent in 1902 and gained admission to the prestigious University of Calcutta in 1919. After studies, she started her practice as a dental surgeon in Bombay (Mumbai). Fatima Jinnah never married and after Quaid’s wife Rattanbai’s demise, she closed her clinic and moved into her brother’s bungalow. Since then, she worked to make Pakistani women financially independent, settle migrants in Pakistan, form the Women’s Relief Committee during the 1947 transfer of power, and criticize the role of military establishment in politics, till her death on July 9, 1967, at the age of 73.
National Flag
Referred to as ‘Parcham-e-Sitara-o-Hilal’ (Flag of the Crescent & Star), Pakistan’s national flag was designed by Syed Amir-uddin Kedwaii and was based on the Muslim League’s flag, which was further inspired by the Mughal Empire’s flag. The flag’s color is green and white, where green represents majority Muslims and white symbolizes minorities. There is a white crescent moon symbolizing progress and a white five-pointed star representing light. Adopted by the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947, the flag is flown on numerous significant occasions.
National Language
Pakistan’s national language is Urdu which had always been considered a language of Muslims pre-independence. Often called the sister language of Hindi, Urdu originated in the 12th century in Delhi, India. It is a member of the Indo-Aryan language family and also traces its roots to Sanskrit. The word ‘Urdu’ itself came from the Turkish word ‘Ordu’ meaning ‘army’, as the language was developed for communication between the Arabic, Persian, and Turkish warriors, fighting together in the Islamic armies of 12th-16th centuries. The literary work for Urdu started in 13th to 15th centuries and Amir Khusrau is considered the ‘Father of Urdu Literature’. During the 19th century in the sub-continent, Urdu also became a major cause for the Two-Nation Theory and sparked the 1867 Hindi-Urdu controversy. Currently, Urdu is the 10th most broadly spoken language in countries like India, Middle East, Britain, Canada, and the USA.
National Mosque of Pakistan
Covering a mighty 5000 sq. m area of the capital, Islamabad, Faisal Mosque is not only the national mosque of Pakistan but the biggest mosque in South Asia. Constructed at the base of the Margalla Hills, the mosque was a gift by the Saudi King Fasial bin Abdul Aziz and designed by a Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay in 1986. Faisal Mosque can accommodate around 200,000 people overall and up to 74,000 in the covered area.
National Fruit
Commonly referred to as the ‘King of Fruits’ in Pakistan, Mango is not only the national fruit of the country but also of Philippines and India. Known for their nutritional value and sweet, juicy flavor, mangoes are consumed fresh and also used in making food products like jams, juices, and pickles. Pakistan is the fifth-largest producer of mangoes in the world with its major manufacturing zones in Punjab and Sindh. Its prime importers include the UK, UAE, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Oman, and the European Union. Pakistanis enjoy the mango season from mid-May to late September.
The famous poet Ghalib was renowned for his love for mangoes, as he believed that ‘Mango should be sweet and plentiful’. An anecdote recalls Ghalib sitting with friends when a donkey approached a mango, sniffed at it, and walked away. A friend said, “Even donkeys don’t eat mangoes.” Ghalib replied, “Yes, only donkeys don’t eat mangoes.”
Qaumi Tarana
National Anthem, the Qaumi Tarana of Pakistan, was officially adopted in 1954. Several prominent poets submitted lyrics to NAC on Ahmed Ghulam Ali Chagla’s tune for evaluation, after which Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez Jullundhri’s lyrics were accepted. The national anthem was first played properly on Radio Pakistan on August 13, 1954, and since then, has been played during special occasions, among those taking place on 14th August or 23rd March. Although the anthem was approved for playing during the visit of Shah of Iran in March 1950, it officially got recognition in August 1954, one year after the composer died. The national anthem is also played in Pakistani cinemas, before the start of every movie.
State Emblem
Pakistan’s national emblem was officially adopted in 1954, representing the ideological basis of the country, its guiding principles and cultural legacy, as well as the foundation of its economy. The crescent, star, and green color symbolize Islam which represents the majority’s religion. There is a quartered shield in the middle with each quarter representing the most produced crops of Pakistan as of its inception, i.e., cotton, jute, tea, and wheat. Representing the Mughal cultural heritage of Pakistan is the floral garland of Jasmine (the national flower) around the shield. Lastly, the scroll at the bottom displays the national motto in Urdu, coined by Muhammad Ali Jinnah i.e., ‘Imaan, Ittehad, Tanzeem’ (Faith, Unity, Discipline), as read from right to left.
National Currency
Pakistan’s national currency is the Pakistani Rupee, or PKR for short. Represented as Rs., PKR is often referred to as ‘rupees’, ‘rupaya’, or ‘rupaye’. The word ‘rupee’ itself derives from the Sanskrit word ‘rup’ or ‘rupa’ meaning “silver” in several Indo-Aryan dialects. In Pakistan, this currency was introduced in 1947 post-independence and was initially attached to the British pound but moved to a managed float policy in 1982.
National Animal
Capra falconeri or the Markhor, is Pakistan’s national animal. It is a large goat i.e., 65 to 115cm at the shoulder, found in the Western Himalayas’ woodland of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Kashmir. Weighing 40-110 kg, Markhor dwells in places 500 to 3500 meters (1,500 to 11,000 feet) high, where they eat leaves and grass. In Pakistan, they are found in Hunza, Chitral, Ghizar, and other Northern areas and are considered the country’s national animal. The word ‘Markhor’ literally translates to ‘Snake Eater’, with both males and females having corkscrew-shaped horns, a black face, light tan color, white underbelly, pattern of black and white on the legs, and considerable long white fur on the chest and neck, up to knees.
National Bird
Pakistan’s national bird is ‘Chukar’ or Alectoris chukar. Commonly known as Chakor, this is a Eurasian highland gamebird that belongs to the pheasant family, Phasianidae, of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. The most variety of Chakor is commonly found in Pakistan, Kashmir, Afghanistan, and southeastern Europe. Due to the continuous rise in their hunting, Chukars have established themselves in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Hawaii.
National Flower
Jasmine, also known as Gardenia, is the national flower of Pakistan, with pale yellow or white, solitary flowers. It belongs to the 142 different species of flowering plants in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. Jasmine is native to the humid and subtropical areas of Southern Asia, Oceania, and Africa, while its numerous genera are found in Hawaii.
National Tree
Commonly referred to as ‘Deodar’ in the Urdu language, Cedrus deodara is a genus of cedar and a large coniferous tree with a 3m trunk diameter and 40–60m height. Found at 1500-3200m of altitude, this Pakistan’s national tree is native to northern Pakistan, eastern Afghanistan, north-central India, and other south Asian countries like Tibet and Nepal. The tree boasts a conic crown, 2.5-5cm long needle-like leaves, and level branches with arched branchlets.
National Dress
Salwar Kameez is the national dress of Pakistan which is articulated as salvaar or shalvaar kameez in in Gujrati, Hindi, and Urdu. Worn by both men and women in South Asia, Salvars are loose pajama-like trousers, wide at the top, and narrow at the base, while the kameez is a long shirt or tunic. The side seams (called the chaak) are left open below the waistline, which allows easy movement to the wearer. In both Pakistan and Afghanistan, Salwar kameez is a commonly worn dress.
National Color
Pakistan’s national color is dark green, which is a shade of green that is specific to Pakistan. Green is also associated with Islam and therefore, a suitable pick for the Pakistani flag. In color psychology, green is a color that evokes feelings of nature, harmony, and balance, and symbolizes life, renaissance, and growth. This color is known to decrease stress, depression, and anxiety, while also elevating creativity levels and improving impulse control.
