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All nations have patriotic songs that express the people's love for their country. Some are or were derived from old folk songs.
Many were written in time of war or revolution. Most nations have selected one of their patriotic songs as a national anthem, to be
played and sung on ceremonial occasions. A national anthem usually expresses religious feeling as well as a feeling of pride in one's
country. It is customary to stand, as a mark of respect, while a national anthem is being played or sung.
The National Anthem of Pakistan approved by the Government in August 1954, is a harmonious rendering of a three-stanza composition
with a tune based on eastern music but arranged in such a manner that it can be easily played by foreign bands.
 The Anthem is evocative in spirit, extolling Pakistan as the centre of faith and freedom, a land of beauty and strength drawn from
the people and the country. The words touch upon the various facets of national life, with an invocation for integrity of Pakistan.
The Verses of the Anthem have been composed by a renowned poet of Pakistan, Abul Asar Hafeez Jullundhri; while the tune has been
composed by Ahmed Ghulamali Chagla, the well known musician and composer.
The Anthem written in Urdu is a unique poetical composition, as in spite of its brevity it is a lyrical exultation for the
quintessence of Pakistan its Islamic foundation, ideology, ethos, aspirations and its intrinsic strength.
Urdu Lyrics
Pak sarzameen shad bad
Kishwar-e-Haseen shad bad
Tou Nishaan-e-Azm-e-aali shan
Arz-e-Pakistan
Markaz-e-yaqeen Shad bad
Pak sarzameen ka nizaam
Qouwat-e-Akhouwat-e-Awam
Qaum mulk saltanat
Painda tabinda bad
Shad bad Manzil-e-murad
Parcham-e-Sitara-o-Hilal
Rahbar-e-Tarakkeey-o-Kamal
Tarjumaan-e-mazee-shaan-e-Hal
Jan-e-Istaqbal
Saaya-e-Khuda-e-zuljalal
English translation
Blessed be the sacred Land
Happy be the bounteous realm
Symbol of high resolve
Land of Pakistan
Blessed be thou citadel of faith
The order of this sacred land
Is the might of the brotherhood of the People
May the nation, the country, and the state
Shine in glory everlasting
Blessed be the goal of our ambition
This Flag of the Crescent and Star
Leads the way to progress and perfection
Interpreter of our past, glory of our present
Inspiration of our future
Symbol of Almighty's protection
National Anthem (Instrumental):
The National Anthem was played for the first time at the Governor-General's House in Karachi during the state visit (the first by
any foreign head of state} by Shah of Iran on March 1, 1950!
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"In a nutshell, Patient Welfare Society wants to join - and lead - others in helping the world see. One way we achieve
this goal is by giving the Gift of Sight to needy people in
Pakistan... read more
Surah An-Nahl, xvi. 114
Islam gave the Muslims of India a sense of identity; dynasties like the Mughals gave them
territory; poets like Allama Iqbal gave them a sense of destiny. Jinnah's towering stature derives from the fact that, by leading the
Pakistan movement and creating the state of Pakistan, he gave them all three. For the Pakistanis he is simply the Quaid-e-Azam or the
Great Leader. Whatever their political affiliation, they believe there is no one quite like him.
