Pakistan marks 78th Independence Day in UAE
Dubai hosted world’s largest Pakistan Independence Day celebration last weekend
ABU DHABI: The Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi celebrated the nation’s 78th Independence Day today with a flag-hoisting ceremony attended by a large number of Pakistani expatriates and their families.
The event was marked by national fervour, with messages from the country’s leadership read out to the audience.
Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, welcomed guests and extended congratulations on the occasion.
Embassy of Pakistan
— Pakistan Embassy UAE (@PakinUAE_) August 14, 2025
Abu Dhabi
PRESS RELEASE
The Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi hosted a flag-hoisting ceremony today to mark the 78th anniversary of Pakistan’s Independence Day with national zeal and enthusiasm. A large number of Pakistani community members, along with their… pic.twitter.com/gKtzravaxT
Emphasising the guiding principles of Unity, Faith, and Discipline, he offered prayers for Pakistan’s peace, prosperity, and stability.
Pakistanis in UAE
The ambassador lauded the contributions of the Pakistani community in the UAE, noting their role in both the host nation’s growth and Pakistan’s economy through remittances totalling USD 7.9 billion (about Dh29 billion) last year. He urged the diaspora to maintain their constructive involvement in national development.
???????? Pakistan Celebrates 78th Anniversary of Independence Day at Dubai Expo City — Grateful to the UAE for the Opportunity and Support ???????? pic.twitter.com/axl3LQ187K
— Pakistan Embassy UAE (@PakinUAE_) August 14, 2025
He also announced the launch of a new online tracking system for passports and National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP), developed by the Mission’s IT team, to enhance efficiency in consular services.
Highlighting educational progress, the top envoy announced that two community schools had received a “Good” ranking for the first time in 20 years. More Pakistani private schools have been invited to establish branches in the UAE to improve access to affordable, quality education for the expatriate community.
Largest celebrations in Dubai
Ambassador Tirmizi expressed gratitude to the UAE government for supporting Independence Day celebrations on an unprecedented scale. He cited the 10 August event at Dubai Expo City, attended by around 60,000 people, as the largest Pakistan Independence Day gathering held anywhere in the world.
As part of the Abu Dhabi celebrations, he unveiled portraits of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the country’s founding fathers, painted and gifted by artist Manzoor K. Hasrat.
The ceremony concluded with patriotic songs performed by schoolchildren.
Independence Day in Pakistan
Meanwhile in Pakistan, the nation marked the 79th Independence Day with renewed commitment to the ideals of the Pakistan Movement. The day began with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and 21-gun salutes in provincial capitals, followed by special prayers for peace, solidarity, and prosperity.
The main flag-hoisting ceremony took place at the Pakistan Monument in Islamabad, where Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif raised the national flag. Buildings were adorned with green and white flags, buntings, and lights, while citizens displayed the national colours on vehicles and rooftops.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attends flag hoisting ceremony at Pakistan Monument.#PakistanHameshaZindabad pic.twitter.com/UNecMPLwZJ
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) August 14, 2025
Pakistan’s Independence Day, observed annually on 14 August, commemorates the nation’s freedom from British colonial rule in 1947 and the establishment of a homeland for Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. The independence movement, inspired by Allama Iqbal’s vision and led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, followed the Lahore Resolution of 1940 and culminated in the partition of British India.
India, Pakistan’s South Asian neighbour, achieved independence a day later on 15 August 1947. Pakistan celebrates on 14 August, the date of the formal transfer of power in Karachi, then the capital.
Across Pakistan and overseas communities, the day is marked by parades, fireworks, cultural events, and the playing of patriotic songs, honouring the struggles and sacrifices that led to the country’s creation.