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Pakistan

Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Islam-i Jamhuriya-e Pakistan

by Željko Heimer
Flag adopted 14 August 1947, coat of arms adopted 23 March 1956.

Description of flag
Who was the designer of the Pakistan flag?
Sizes and use of the flag

Description of Flag

The Pakistan Flag was designed by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah**, the founder of Pakistan. The national flag of Pakistan is dark green in colour with a white bar, a white crescent in the centre and a five-pointed star. The significance of the colour and symbols used in the Pakistan Flag is as follows:

The white and dark green field represents minorities & Muslim majority, respectively.
The crescent on the flag represents progress.
The five-rayed star represents light and knowledge.

From http://www.pak.gov.pk/Flag.aspx, collected by Ivan Sache, 21 October 2008

Flag display in Pakistan easily exceeds that of the US. Pakistani's are very proud of the flag and display it everywhere. I was amazed at how many Pakistani flags I saw flying from private homes, even out in the country side.

Even though there are specific proportions for all the parts on Pakistan's flag, said specifications were seldom followed on any flag I saw with the exception of some printed flags I ran up upon.
Clay Moss, 4 July 2001

A note in Album des Pavillons (2000) explains that this flag is not to be flown as a civil flag. The correction 1 to Album des Pavillons (2000) has an entry for Pakistan, but from what I could see, the only difference is more detailed construction information for the national flag. I believe that both issues contain correct construction information, though.
Željko Heimer, 8 September 2002

Who was the designer of the Pakistan flag?

On a Pakistan government webpage (now only available on the Internet Archive) it is reported that the the Pakistan flag was designed by Ameer-ud-din Khidwai.
Collected by Dov Gutterman, 10 January 1999

The description of the flag is unchanged in a revised version of the page at http://www.pak.gov.pk/Flag.aspx but the name of the designer has been changed: "The Pakistan Flag was designed by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan."

The "Daily Times", 23 July 2008, quoting the Pakistan Press International (PPI) agency, lists yet another designer of the national flag:
"The death anniversary of Master Afzal Hussain, the man who designed the Pakistani flag, should be commemorated at a national level, urged Master Afzal Hussain Foundation Trust chairperson Qamar Sultana Monday. While addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, she said that Hussain designed the national flag but the government had failed to recognize his services. [...] . Master Afzal died on July 16, 1987."
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C07%5C22%5Cstory_22-7-2008_pg12_4
Ivan Sache, 21 October 2008

The Daily Times, Karachi - Friday, October 31, 2008, reported:
"Who made Pakistan's first flag, Afzal or Altaf?" By Jamil Khan

KARACHI: Once again the controversy of who stitched the first Pakistani flag was brought into the light when Zahoorul Hassan, the son of Master Altaf Hussain, in a press conference at Karachi Club on Thursday, claimed that is father and not his uncle, Master Afzal Hussain, stitched the first Pakistani flag after the announcement of Partition in June 1947. Master Afzal Hussain was formally recognized by former premier Nawaz Sharif, as the person who stitched Pakistan's first flag. Barrister Samin Khan accompanied Zahoor, who lives in Hyderabad, at the press conference. Zahoor stated that his cousins distorted the facts behind the story and deliberately stated that their father had stitched the flag, thus being awarded and recognized by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1996.
"I raised this issue many times in the past but no government after 1996 was interested in giving the rightful status to Master Altaf Hussain's family," he said. Zahoor brought his fathers belongings to the press conference, including his father's All India Muslim League National Guards identity card and the photograph taken by an American photographer of Master Altaf stitching Pakistan's national flag in his New Delhi shop. Demanding that the present government should conduct a fair inquiry on the matter, he said that it should also give Master Altaf's family the appropriate status on a national level. Earlier, Barrister Samin Khan narrated his own story of how he and Margaret Bourke White, an American photographer working for Life magazine, witnessed Altaf stitching the Pakistani flag at Master Altaf Hussain's New Delhi shop on June 3 1947. "All India Muslim League Secretary General Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan summoned me to accompany the American photographer who wanted to take pictures of different parts of Delhi," said Barrister Samin adding that when they reached Master Altaf Hussain's shop, White photographed Master Altaf stitching the flag. "The pictures were published in the Life magazine's edition printed on Aug 18 1947, this proves Zahoorul Hassan's claim," he said.
Saying that Tehreek-e-Pakistan Karkunan gave a gold medal to Master Altaf Hussain who died in 1967, he stated that the current government should do the same.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 31 October 2008

Sizes and Use of the Flag

The Pakistani flag is flown on the offices and official residences of VIPs when they are home.

SIZE OF FLAGS:
i) For ceremonial occasions. 21' x 14', 18' x 12', 10' x 6-2/3' or 9' x 6 1/4.
ii) For use over buildings. 6' x 4' or 3' x 2'.
iii) For cars 12" x 8".
iv) For tables 6 1/4" x 4 1/4".

Occasions on which Pakistani flag is to be flown
i) Pakistan Day (23rd March)
ii) Independence Day (14th August)
iii) Quaid-e-Azim's Birthday (25th December)
iv) Such other days as may be notified by the Government from time to time.

Days when flags at half-mast
i) Death anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal (21st April)
ii) Death anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam (11th September)
iii) Death anniversary of Liaquat Ali Khan (16th October)
iv) Any other day notified by the Government.

Flag to be flown on residences
The Pakistan Flag shall be flown on the official residences of the following VIPs when they are home: -
1. The President and Prime Minister of Pakistan.
2. Chairman of the Senate and Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan.
3. Governors of the Provinces.
4. Federal Ministers and other dignitaries entitled to the privileges of the Ministers of the Government of Pakistan.
5. Chief Ministers and Ministers of Provinces.
6. The Chief Election Commissioner.
7. Deputy Chairman of the Senate / Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan.
8. Speakers of the Provincial Assemblies.
9. Diplomatic Representatives of Pakistan in foreign countries.
10. Commissioners of Divisions, Deputy Commissioners and Political Agents.

Note: - The Pakistan Flag will be flown on the official residence of the President / Prime Minister alongside his personal standard.

Flag to be flown on motorcars
The following persons shall be entitled to fly the Pakistan Flag on their motor cars, vessels and aeroplanes, when the dignitaries themselves are seated: -
1. The President of Pakistan.
2. The Prime Minister of Pakistan.
3. The Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan.
4. The Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan.
5. Chief Justice of Pakistan.
6. The Governors of the Provinces.
7. The Chief Ministers of the Provinces.
8. Chief Justices of the High Courts.

Note: - The President / Prime Minister may fly two flags i.e., his personal flag in addition to the National Flag.

Located by Dov Gutterman, 8 August 2002
Source: http://www.interior.gov.pk/pakistani_flag.htm