As August approaches, Pakistan stands covered in green and white flags fluttering from rooftops in anticipation of Independence Day.
However, in recent years, this display of patriotism seems to be diminishing. The absence of flags hoisted on rooftops serves as a meaningful indication that patriotism, once a vibrant and unifying force, is gradually fading away among Pakistanis.
This phenomenon raises significant issues about the changing nature of patriotism in the country and the factors that contribute to its decline.
Historical Context of Patriotism in Pakistan
From the moment of its inception in 1947, Pakistan’s identity has been deeply rooted in its struggle for independence and the subsequent establishment of a sovereign nation for Muslims of the Indian subcontinent.
This shared history created a strong sense of patriotism, with the green and white flag becoming a symbol of unity, identity, and pride. The celebration of Independence Day was not only a commemoration of the past but also an expression of hope for the future.
Changing Dynamics and Erosion of Patriotism
Several factors have contributed to the decreased presence of flags on rooftops for Independence Day:
Generational Shifts
With each passing generation, the connection to the struggles of the past is diluted. Younger Pakistanis, born in an era far away from the difficult days of partition and independence, might find it challenging to resonate with the fervor of their predecessors.
Globalization and Information Age
In an increasingly interconnected world, people’s identities are shaped by multiple influences beyond national boundaries. The rise of social media, streaming platforms, and exposure to a diverse range of cultures have led to a dilution of exclusive national identities.
Socioeconomic Concerns
A significant portion of the population grapples with pressing economic challenges, leading to a shift in priorities. In such circumstances, issues such as unemployment, inflation, and poverty might take precedence over overt displays of patriotism.
Political Disillusionment
Political instability, corruption, and a lack of effective governance have contributed to disillusionment among citizens. This disillusionment can numb the sense of pride and attachment to the nation.
Ethnic and Regional Divides
Pakistan is a diverse nation with various ethnic and linguistic groups. In some cases, these differences have given rise to regional identities that sometimes supersede the national identity, leading to a weakened sense of unity and patriotism.
Education and Awareness
The education system plays a crucial role in shaping perspectives. A lack of comprehensive civic education and historical awareness might contribute to a shallow understanding of the significance of patriotism.
Rekindling the Flame of Patriotism
While the decline in visible displays of patriotism is concerning, it’s not necessarily an irreversible trend. There are steps that can be taken to reignite the spirit of patriotism in Pakistan:
Education Reforms
Introducing comprehensive civic education that highlights the sacrifices made during the struggle for independence can help instill a sense of national pride.
Cultural Celebrations
Organizing events that celebrate Pakistan’s diverse cultural heritage can foster a sense of unity among different ethnic and linguistic groups.
Youth Engagement
Creating platforms for young Pakistanis to actively participate in shaping the nation’s future can help them develop a deeper attachment to their country.
Political Transparency
Ensuring a transparent and accountable political environment can help rebuild citizens’ trust and pride in their nation.
Media and Art
Utilizing media, literature, art, and entertainment to portray positive narratives about the country can influence public sentiment.
Final Word
The dwindling practice of hoisting flags on rooftops in August is more than just a superficial show; it is a reflection of changing attitudes toward patriotism in Pakistan.
As the country navigates the challenges of the modern era, it is important to recognize the factors that contribute to the decline in overt patriotism.
By understanding these dynamics and taking proactive steps to rekindle the flames of patriotism, Pakistan can continue to build a sense of national unity, pride, and purpose that will guide it into the future.
Reason is simple. Middle class is no more attached to this country. This country is only for the elite and government and mil officers. The rest don’t belong here. It seems that the job of ordinary Pakistanis is to pay taxes to sponsor the life of some individuals.
Only two million pay income tax in Pakistan, 7.5 million are registered but they never file tax. Paying taxes on mobile or utility bills isn’t “paying tax” in rest of the world.
@patriotic You are talking about personal income tax and that is a different story. But every Pakistani is paying indirect taxes that is more than 19% and additional duties on almost everything.
Government is misguiding people by giving these figures. Also middle class and salaried class always pay taxes. It is the Elite, DHA residents and others who are good in establishing Papa Johns and still don’t pay any taxes.
If you pay 19% or more on mobile card recharge or bill is still not tax on your overall income. And what this amount is in percentage of your income? Pakistanis want facilities only, they don’t want to pay taxes. This is dorectly linked to patriotism. This DHA and elite thing is yet another excuse. Do you have statistics? How many living in DHA are from a military background and don’t pay taxes? Do property dealers pay taxes? Do shopkeepers pay taxes?
Please let me who stopped Imran Khan and opposed the Idea of implimenting taxes on properties? It was bloody army
Where’s that 5.5 million gone fortunately they are politicians and other higher authorities. Why should they blame us to live in this country
Idiot there are 2 types of taxes either you pay them directly or the taxes are imposed on utilities and every necessity of daily life. How could you say Pakistani people do not pay taxes?
10000% agree
No one wants to live in 1800s. That’s the basic reason.
Electricity, water, gas, security, proper education, medical or business opportunities are considered luxuries now.
You’ll see the government sponsored patriotic transmissions only in poor countries. The love for your country is natural, it can’t be forced upon.
Ancient roman masses used to leave cities overnight and leave the elites behind to work for themselves.
Jis khet se dehqaan ko mayyaser na ho roozi…
Everyone wants to leave this country. People are enlighten with the knowledge of what is the role of state, tax, law & order & people are getting nothing even basic facilities like water, electricity & gas. People has reached a boiling point. This is not going to change no matter what the incompetent gov and its handlers do. Respect can’t be earned back that easily.
Y0uthya spotted, the competent govt before which was brought by their own handlers headed by kaptan was so capable that Pakistan had the worst economic fall down.
Patwari spotted. You came to save the country and you have only saved your corruption!
Corruption y0uthyaz never could prove in courts because they never had an evidence of it. But now Mahatma is where he always deserved to be, with all the evidence, and y0uthyaz have absolutely no logical answer to it
Way better than it is now. If you know nothing about economics yourself and only read lifafa journalism, then just shut up.
Yes from GDP growth of plus 6 to 0.2 by so called experienced luteray.
What was total GDP when y0uthya govt came in power and when it was shown the doors to exit? Pakistani economy shrinked in 2019 and 2020.
Pakistan gdp growth rate for 2020 was -1.27%, a 3.77% decline from 2019 (still lower it was in 2019 than in 2018 and 2017).
Pakistan gdp growth rate for 2019 was 2.50%, a 3.65% decline from 2018.
So the self claimed GDP growth by y0uthya govt in 2022 still didn’t brought Pakistan where its GDP Volume was when they came in power. Pakistani economy shrinked which effected everyone. You can’t measure economic growth by just saying it was 6% vs 0.2%, read the first line I wrote.
Retarded noni logic
And what about the betrayer nawaz and shehbaz fucking robbers and earned billions of black money .
Please go to school, your comment shows you’re not worth wasting time on.
Patwari chootiya also spotted, licking feet of papa patwari n suckling the bones papa patwari gave to chootiya patwari..
Our state is busy pleasing others. (selling the nation) People are not blind watching them.
The reason is clear here. Now peoples understands that everything in Pakistan is controlled by Pak army general and those civilian elites who are licking them. And our generals are doing everything for dollars except protection of country which is their main duty.
Sir… You nailed it…👍
Life has become too difficult in Pakistan and citizens are angry because our own people are its root cause. What’s there for a common Pakistani to cheer about ? Independence day from whom ?
Sajawal! What are you trying to sell here, people don’t lobe their country because Imran isn’t in power? People love their country and their feelings change with changing environment. People aren’t financially able to afford celebrations like they used to, after Imran experiment thing have changed for everyone.
If Imran was an experiment. How is that he is winning all the bi elections after being ousted from power. So wakeup and accept the truth majority of people want IK back. As now all the crooks have backing of military establishment.
I only wrote what I noticed, not just this year, but before as well. I remember hoisting flags and decorating homes with small paper flags of different colors as kids, but that is fading away slowly. There was no mention of Imran Khan or any other political parties in the piece. Tell me if you haven’t noticed the same?
Well spotted and observed. In my opinion, this is because the social contract between the state and it’s citizens have seen persistent violations. It’s easier to live in poverty than to live in injustice. As Hazrat Ali said “society can exist in kufr (non-belief) but not in oppression”
The reason why number of flags are down this year is because there is nothing to celebrate. Crooks and their facilitators have screwed up the country in last 16 months
Have you been to Balohistan and Ex FATA and have you noticed this phenomenon there?
You think patriotism can be measured by number of flags on the rooftop, paper flags? It can also be measured if people pay taxes, corruption index, happiness index, if they prefer a person over their country, if they would die for their country. But “what I observed I wrote” isn’t logical. You gave a judgement purely based on your observation. This “observation” at this time isn’t without a reason specially when it is closed to narrative of a political party.
And what about this 1.5 years
Phojaan baba g phojaa
Did you know that as per law, me as a citizen of Pakistan cannot display the flag of Pakistan at my residence or place of work year round.
I am only allowed to display the national flag around 14th Aug only.
In the US every household and place of business has multiple US flags displayed ALL year round.
Respecting the flag should be year round not just for a week or two in a year.
You can display the flag on your private residence as long as you respect it, removing it from the flagpole before maghreb prayer.
10 of 1000s of defaulters are enjoying free electricity with more than 20% kunda(illegal hooks) excluding line loses.when electricity distribution company bear loses than those who are paying bills regularly pays the extra burden in their FCA including 17% GST.jobs are on sales.Inflation on sky.186 people died resisting robbery while 500+ people died in target killing from january to august excluding injured people.this figure is high compare to people being killed in Palestine.so who are slaves.we are or palestinians?.why should we hang this cursed flag thristy of blood always drinking our blood like water.i challenge u all white helmets go and pass 1000 of bills in parliament regarding patriotism but it wont work.Corrupt devils go to hell.Didn”t learn from the death of Mussharraf.
I never raised a flag on my rooftop. However, I also see that people who used to do that 10 years ago also have stopped doing that. Perhaps, the flags have become expensive or people have no time to do this as they are busy in their mobile phones. Another reason could be that people are fed up with the system of governance in Pakistan and feel no interest in doing that.
Why would we hoist flags on our homes in a situation where country is going through economic crisis, where people are suffering.
The evil nexus of patwarees and neutrals is the main reason for this
Why you didn’t speak about neutral before 10th April 2022 and when they were busy on project Imran from 2011 to 2021
If housting flags determines patriotism then all the developed first-world countries like USA and countries in Europe are least patriotic. Name me one DEVELOPED country whis does superficial acts like us to celebrate independence. While the world is reaching MARS, we are busy in errecting tallest flag pole!!
Lol first visit USA social media pseudo intellectual. In America most of the homes hosting flags on roof top.
How would sense of patriotism not fade in a country which is unstable in all aspects. Especially the political drama and mudslinging and the involvement of the powerful military have squashed the hopes of all the plain Pakistanis. Unfortunately, just after 75 years of independence Pakistan’s downfall seems to be inevitable and the nation’s lifespan is roughly equal to the average lifespan of a human being. It is to be noted that back in 1971, the so called everlasting Pakistan’s right arm was brutally and stupidly amputated by the left one. More than 50% of Pakistanis suddenly became Bangladeshis, the remaining of them are still suffering and are destined to be nationals of other reputable countries.
Well said. Definitely, how to restore the future it has to be looked at.
jhanday lgaao kaam koi na kro..Haram kamaao ,corruption kro,End p tarannay(Anthem) bnaa k thanda krdo. That’s not independence
Hoisting flags on roof tops, on vehicles and bikes, painting faces in green and white, singing ‘qaumi tarana’ or war songs and similar cosmetic actions are not a proof of patriotism nor is patriotism a monopoly of a few or a group of persons as this is usually touted. Patriotism is fulfilling your responsibilities to the best of your ability with honesty and dedication, whatever your field. Many smugglers, hoarders, profiteers, adulterators, tax evaders, and the like might be hoisting flags etc. but I do not consider them to be patriots. Sorry!
Only reason is regular mil interventions
U conveniently forgot to enter the real reason. Zulm and barbarism carried out by men without uniform in recent months has pushed a common patriot far away.
After all it’s not Pakistan’s fault. The real foes are that patwaris who didn’t show any bit of mercy to people. Middle n lower middle class are only for paying taxes to refuel the ashrafiyaas. Still we love Pakistan and will always. (
IN SHA ALLAH) But first we will have to eradicate this patwari pandemic.
For the past 75 years we have been lied to by almost all the politicians, yet we do not realize it. When will Pakistanis become woke?
Unfortunately our country is not independent, irony is it on sale. Why can’t we manage it on our own, by the grace of Allah it is full of talent except the gold rush: short sighted only to serve personal agendas.
Pakistanis are still patriotic but little change we see is due to economic challenges of middle class and no justice whatsoever
Imran Riaz khan , Arshad Shareef and widely spread injustice. Nation might be silent but they are not bloody dumb civilians.
Injustice in every field of life in every matter of state. Once people loved the country and institutions but unfortunately now they are scared of it.
Stop injustice once for all.
I absolutely agree with you. No more Hubb-ul-wattani ka chooran. After 76 years of independent there isn’t much to celebrate. The state of Pakistan has failed to fulfil each and every purpose it was created for. The ruling elite, Generals and beneficiaries of this evil corrupt system can’t fool us with their patriotic rhetoric. Everyone, including those commenting against you, want to get out of this grimy hell hole.
صرف انصافی ایسے ہیں جو کپتان کے پیچھے ملک کے دشمن ہوگئے ہیں. ان کیلئے کپتان ہی سب کچھ ہے پاکستان کچھ نہیں. ہر ذات نے مرنا ہے. کپتان بھی ایک دن مر جائے گا. پھر یہ ذہنی غلام کیا خودکشی کرلیں گے؟؟؟
پاکستان ہے تو انکے کپتان کی پہچان ہے، پاکستان ہے تو انکی پہچان ہے.
عجیب لوگ ہیں کہ ایک متکبر سیاستدان کیلئے ملک دشمنی پر اتر آئے ہیں.
پاکستان زندہ باد 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰
A country where a patriot like Arshad sharif is forced to leave due to bogus FIRs, made to leave his hiding place, murdered brutally on land he never belonged to… N his own govt n judiciary do nothing except mocking n siding with this brutality is not a country worth celebrating…. It simply doesn’t belong to many of us like Arshad sharif who have no freedom of expression n speech
Pls tell us where that Arshad Shareef was staying
Who was with him when he was shot ?
Why the people who were with him didn’t give his laptop and other things to Pakistan police ?
70 saal se hame truck ki bati ke peche lagya he aur is mulk ke chalana walo ne apni properties or DHQs banane ke alawa hame kuch nahi diya aur 14 august to wo celebrate karen jinko muft ghar,electricity,gas,petrol,education milti he
نااہل حکمران اور بڑھتی ہوئی مہنگائی نے عوام کے اندر غم وغصہ پیدا کر دیا ہے ۔سیاسی عدم استحکام اور بے انصافی ،رشوت ،جھوٹ اور مہنگائی نے عوام کا جینا حرام کر دیا ہے ۔ہر شخص روزگار کمانے اور ملکی حالات سے جان چھڑانے کے لیے دوسرے ممالک میں جانا چاہتا ہے ۔ایسے حالات میں جبکہ عوام میں مایوسی پھیل چکی ہے اور ہر شخص یہاں سے فرارچاہتا ہے وہ کیوں اپنے گھر 🏠 جھنڈا لگائے گا اور جشن آزادی مناءےگا۔
Pakistan is our life line LONG LIVE PAKISTAN
JASHN E GHULAAMI MUBARAK HO…
Nice effort
کس بات کی خوشی اور کس بات کا جشن۔ انگریزوں کی غلامی کے بعد جرنیلوں کی غلامی کا جشن۔ ہم سب مزارع ہیں جن کا کام سخت محنت کر کے مالکوں کی عیاشی اور موجیں کروانا ہے۔ اس بات کا جھنڈا لہرائے کوئی۔
Use your mind. Our leader in in jail. Iss govt k qartoot aur mehngaee are the reasons the majority will not celebrate this time!
As the political parties have always been puppets of strong state organisations, so the diminishing patriotism has nothing to do with politicians, but it do a matter of great concern for our strong originations.
ان تازہ خداؤں میں بڑا سب سے وطن ھے
جو اس کا پیرہن ہے وہ امت کا کفن ہے
بازو تیرا ایمان کی قوت سے قوی ہے
اسلام تیرا دیش تو مصطفوی ہے
علامہ محمد اقبال
Pakistan: An occupied state by the elite and Establishment of Pakistan
You’re right we gotta admit from the day 1 of establishment the influence of waderas and their internal politics in West Pakistan never let the state flourish and till today those waderas now called elite re ruling Pakistan but the love for the state still prays for things to get better InShaAllah
There is also the law which does not allow a person to keep a flag up. If you see in America people have flags all year round. Here the law doesn’t allow that.
The real reason for the lack of patriotism is freedom of speech, or the lack of it .
کوئی کمی نہیں آئی آپ بس ایک دہشتگرد جماعت کا بیانیہ آگے بڑھا رہے ہو،یہ سیاست دان ملک کے وفادار نہیں صرف کرسی کے وفادار ہیں کسی کو ملک کی پرواہ نہیں اور آپ لوگ گمراہ ہو رہے ہو،حالات جیسے بھی ہو ملک سے محبت لازم ہے اس ملک نے ہمیں ہر چیز دی ہے اور تم زلیل لوگ ایک دہشتگرد جماعت کے پیچھے ملک کا نقصان کر رہے ہو ،9 مئی کے بعد دیکھا نہیں دہشتگرد جماعت نے پکڑے جانے والوں کو اپنا ماننے سے انکار کر دیا اب ان کے گھر والے زلیل ہو رہے ہیں تم لوگوں کے ساتھ بھی یہی ہو گا اور تمھارے یہ لیڈر کے گے ہم تو جانتے نہیں اس لیے عقل کرو اور آزادی کی قدر کرو جاہلوں ،
پاکستان زندہ باد
زندہ باد TLP
پاک فوج زندہ باد
Right bro
This is because our natiol protector are become the Nation enemies killed innocent pakistanies kids females and men’s.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, is a famous political saying in political science, and it irritated me during my student life that how could a Muslim, having faith in Almighty Allah and the hereafter, could be so crooked. But later experiences of life taught me that it is not only possible, but a ‘normal’ practical in politics and other fields of life. This raises to the ground one’s all hopes. Hence, the fading patriotism.
Normal practice
سب سے ںڑی وجہ سےسجاول صاحب آپ بھی کنی کترا گئے ہیں
Nothing to celebrate considering the state of Pakistan to day due to this lotting government daily Human rights violations happening tell me what to celebrate.
Well this year it has been observed by many that the entusiasam we see every year is not there, it probably have got nothing to do with economic down trend or inflation, i think it is due to an illegal Government in power which do not represent even 5% of the people. Everyone wants to show thier solidarity with IK and condemned the government of thier hostile take over.
If the most loved leader of our nation is in jail for no good reason how can we celebrate freedom.
The man who provided the nation with best cancer hoapitals in the world , universities and a cricket world cup .the man who gave the right of free medical care to the poor and shelter homes for the homeless and free food for the poor .who fought for the muslim sentiments at the highest forums .unfortunately he is in jail only to please a few elites.paki flags too heavy to be at the top of the roofs this time.
lovely pakistan