Pakistan Day

Pakistan Day, also known as Republic Day and Pakistan Resolution Day, is a holiday that falls annually on the 23rd of March. This holiday commemorates the passage of the Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940, and the official adoption of Pakistan’s first constitution when Pakistan adopted its own constitution, creating one of the first Islamic republics in the world. The holiday is celebrated with an armed forces parade, among other festivities. It is a day when many banks, schools, and businesses across Pakistan are closed. One of the main celebrations is held in the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, and is usually attended by high government and military officials.

The History of Pakistan Day

From March 22nd to March 24th, 1940, the Muslim League held its annual meeting at Minto Park in Lahore, Punjab. This meeting highlighted the events that marked the differences between Muslims and Hindus and reiterated the need for a separate nation-state, which would eventually become Pakistan. In August of 1947, independence was gained from the British Raj, and Pakistan was formed as a constitutional monarchy, headed by George VI and Governor-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Two years later, a basic constitution was drafted for Pakistan. However, it wasn’t until 1956 that the constitution had been modified and amended enough to suit the people of Pakistan and to become the law of the land, which it did on March 23rd, 1956.

Interesting Facts About Pakistan

We’ve gathered together some interesting facts about Pakistan and have decided to share those facts below. There’s more to Pakistan than what many people realize, and we hope the following facts highlight that idea.

Two Pakistanis Have Won Nobel Peace Prizes

Two Pakistanis have won Nobel Peace Prizes: Abdus Salam and Malala Yousafzai. The former is a theoretical physicist who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contribution to electroweak unification. The latter is a women’s education activist who shared the prize in 2014 with Kailash Satyarthi of India. She was only 17 when she won the award.

The Name Pakistan Comes From One Persian Word And One Sanskrit Word

The name for Pakistan comes from the Persian word for holy, “Pak,” and the Sanskrit word for place, “stan.”

Pakistan Day Customs, Observances & Traditions

On this day, the flag of Pakistan is usually hoisted first thing on all public and government buildings throughout the country. In provincial capitals, a 21-gun salute is usually fired, and in Islamabad, a 31-gun salute is fired. Also in Islamabad, there is a parade that travels down Constitution Avenue. All across Pakistan, the day is punctuated with many festivals, fairs, and parties. Award ceremonies are also held that give out awards to distinguished Pakistani civilians and military leaders. Some people choose to spend the day with their friends and families instead of attending these public events. Because many banks, government buildings, and schools are closed, people usually have the time to attend the main celebrations of this day. This also means that there may be heavy congestion on the streets in major cities, a problem that’s often compounded by public transportation being on an altered schedule.

Where is it celebrated?
Pakistan (Public holiday)
When is it?
This year (2024)
March 23 Saturday
Next year (2025)
March 23 Sunday
Last year (2023)
March 23 Thursday