| Pakistan Day یومِ پاکستان | |
|---|---|
 Minar-e-Pakistan, where theLahore Resolution was passed | |
| Official name | Urdu:یومِ پاکستان lit.Yaum-e-Pakistan[Note 1] |
| Observed by |  Pakistan, United States[1] |
| Type | Islamic Republic |
| Significance | Commemoration ofPakistan Resolution andConstitution |
| Celebrations | FullJoint Inter-Services military parade, conferring ofPakistani national honours |
| Observances | Pakistan(Diplomatic missions of Pakistan in other countries) |
| Begins | 23 March |
| Ends | 23 March |
| Date | 23 March |
| Next time | 23 March 2026 (2026-03-23) |
| Duration | 24 hours |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | 23 March 1940 (85 years ago) (1940-03-23) |
Pakistan Day (Urdu:یومِ پاکستان, lit.Yaum-e-Pakistan) is anational holiday in Pakistan primarily commemorating the adoption of the firstConstitution of Pakistan during the transition of theDominion of Pakistan to theIslamic Republic of Pakistan on 23 March 1956 making Pakistan the world's firstIslamic republic, which remains amember state of the Commonwealth of Nations.[2] The day also celebrates the adoption of theLahore Resolution by theMuslim League at theMinar-e-Pakistan (lit. 'Pakistan Tower') which called for the creation of independent sovereign states derived from the provinces with Muslim majorities located in theNorth-West andEast of British India (excluding autonomous princely States) on 24 March 1940.[3][4][2][5]
The day is celebrated annually primarily by Government officials and army staff throughout the country and is a public holiday for civilians. While civilians do not celebrate the public holiday, thePakistan Armed Forces usually hold a military parade to celebrate both the passing of theLahore Resolution in 24 March 1940 and theConstitution of Pakistan of 1956.[6][7][8]
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TheMuslim League held its annual session atMinto Park inLahore,Punjab, from 22 March to 24 march 1940.[9] During this event, theMuslim League led byMuhammad Ali Jinnah and otherFounding Fathers narrated the events regarding the differences betweenHindus and Muslims, and presented the Lahore resolution on 23rd March 1940 and was later passed on 24th March 1940 that cemented the formation of independent states in subcontinent it did not actually mention Pakistan at all.[10]
Theresolution was moved byA. K. Fazlul Huq (26 October 1873 – 27 April 1962), often calledSher-e-Bangla, passed on 24th March and had its signatures from the Founding Fathers of Pakistan. It reads as:[11]
[Quoting Resolution:] No constitutional plan would be workable or acceptable to the Muslims unless geographical contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so constituted with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary. That the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in majority as in the North-Western and Eastern zones of India should be grouped to constitute independent states in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign.
The British plan topartition the Indian subcontinent into two dominions - India and Pakistan - was announced on 3 June 1947. In the event, Pakistan was created on 14 August 1947 and Indian independence came a day later. Pakistan was immediately identified as a migrant state born amid bloodshed.Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, became the firstGovernor-General of Pakistan withLiaqat Ali Khan becoming the firstPrime Minister of Pakistan. The Indian Act of 1935 provided the legal framework for Pakistan until 1956, when the state passed its own constitution.[12]
While Pakistan'sIndependence Day celebrates its freedom fromBritish rule, the Republic Day celebrates the coming into force of its constitution.
Works and efforts by theBasic Principles Committee drafted the basic outlines of theconstitution in 1949.[13] After many deliberations and years of some modifications, the first set of the Constitution of Pakistan was enforced in the country on 23 March 1956. This marked the country's successful transition fromDominion toIslamic Republic. TheGovernor-General was replaced with thePresident of Pakistan asceremonialhead of state.[14] Initially it was called Republic Day but afterAyub Khan's takeover its name was changed to Pakistan Day due to theend of democracy in Pakistan.
The main celebration is held inIslamabad, the capital of Pakistan.[15] ThePresident of Pakistan is usually the Chief Guest; also in attendance are thePrime Minister of Pakistan alongside theCabinet ministers, military chiefs of staff, andchairman joint chiefs.[16]
A fullinter-services jointmilitary parade is rehearsed and broadcast live by thenews media all over the country.[16] The Pakistan military inter services also gives a glance of its power and capabilities during this parade.
The celebrations regarding the holiday include a full military and civilian parade in the capital, Islamabad.[6] These are presided by the President of Pakistan and are held early in the morning.[16] After the parade, the President confers national awards and medals on the awardees at thePresidency.[16] Wreaths are also laid at the mausoleums of Allama SirMuhammad Iqbal and Quaid-i-AzamMuhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan.[6] In very rare times and significance, foreign dignitaries have been invited to attend the military parade.[17]
In the United States, whileNew York City has celebrated North America's largest Pakistan Day parade for decades,New Jersey's first annual Pakistan Day parade was held on August 16, 2015, inEdison andWoodbridge, New Jersey.[18][19]
Citations
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