Where Sacrifices Speak, There Lies Pakistan

On this day, when the air reverberates with the cry of “Pakistan Zindabad”; when every street and alley gleams with the lustre of the crescent and the star; when children, with innocent laughter, revive the dreams of the martyrs—my own heartbeat beats in unison with the pulse of Pakistan. This day does not merely bestow joy upon us; it courses through our veins with the very fervour that animated the wounded caravans of 1947, that glowed in the blood of martyrs, and that trembled upon the lips of mothers in whispered prayers. Believe me, if today we breathe the air of freedom, it is by the grace of those who laid down their lives. This land was not conferred upon us as a mere gift—it was purchased with blood, with tears, with sacrifice.

The idea to which we turn our thoughts today is no ordinary conception. It was a spiritual lantern that cast its light amidst the darkness of bondage. The Ideology of Pakistan was a clarion call that rose from the depths of millions of hearts, a dream beheld by unnumbered eyes, and realised through the oblation of countless lives. It was not merely the quest for a parcel of earth; it was the symbol of faith’s fire, conviction’s strength, and sacrifice’s grandeur.

Pakistan stands as the living miracle of that very idea.
The Ideology of Pakistan was the embodiment of a dream—a dream woven into the hearts of the Muslims of India: a dream of freedom, of the preservation of their identity, of a polity founded upon the golden principles of Islam where justice, equality, and fraternity might flourish. At a time when oppression sought to extinguish the Muslim identity, this ideology emerged as a radiant torch, shattering the chains of servitude and illuminating the path to a sovereign homeland. It was no mere political demand, but a spiritual, cultural, and emotional struggle that gathered an entire people beneath a single banner.

The Ideology of Pakistan was not the product of political bargaining—it was the very cry of a community’s soul, the realisation of a vision burning like a flame of faith within their hearts. It took root in that hour when the chains of slavery sought to throttle their identity, when the shadows of cultural and religious obliteration loomed over them. In that hour, this ideology stood forth as a beacon of light, gathering millions of hearts into one. It was this spirit that supplied courage to those destitute caravans and sent them resolute upon their way. The foundation of Pakistan was laid not upon mere soil and blood, but upon an eternal idea, upon faith’s certainty, and upon an indomitable resolve.

Today, we stand upon this sacred soil, irrigated with the blood of countless martyrs, perfumed with the fragrance of sacrifice, and echoing still with the sighs and supplications of the fallen. Recall the days when mothers emptied their cradles to nourish the dream of Pakistan; when sisters surrendered their honour that we might bequeath this flag of green and crescent; when youth, with laughter on their lips, embraced death that we might draw the breath of freedom. This liberty was never alms to us—it was a heritage inscribed in our own blood upon the tablets of history.

Today, we commemorate that sacred dawn when the sacrifices, the prayers, and the crimson lifeblood of millions of Muslims lit a new lamp upon the page of history. That lamp was Pakistan—the emblem of faith, of sacrifice, of dignity—the mark that set us apart among the nations of the earth.

And so, in this field we stand with pride, our heads lifted high, not bowed low, upon this great day of independence. The light burns in our eyes, the ardour throbs in our hearts. We stand in memory of those martyrs who offered up their lives to bequeath us this homeland; we salute the noble souls whose sacrifices carried Pakistan through storms of tyranny to this proud station upon the map of the world.

It would be the basest ingratitude to pass over in silence the most recent ordeal of Pakistan—the trial by fire in our confrontation with India, and the Fath-e-Mubeen of 2025. With humility we bend in gratitude, for on the evening of 14th August 2025 we were vouchsafed new strength, new spirit, and new resolve, as our soldiers shone like jewels of Islamic consciousness in defence of the nation. One may call it the Ma‘raka al-Haqq—the Battle of Truth. In those days was founded the new Army Rocket Force Command, that our vow to answer the foe with unflinching might might be set beyond question. Thus did our Armed Forces cross a new milestone in the annals of national defence.

This year marks the opening of a new chapter. The recent conflict between Pakistan and India, which history will record as a Decisive Victory, bears witness that Pakistan’s defence is impregnable. The courage and selflessness with which our forces upheld the flag of the nation will stand as a beacon for generations to come. To the enemy was sent an unambiguous message: Pakistan is not a frontier to be crossed; it is an idea—and no idea may ever be vanquished. This was no mere political or military manoeuvre: it was an affirmation, a reminder, that without Pakistan, the martyrs of Kashmir, the yearning for unity, and the honour of Muslims would all be imperilled.

Let us now turn to the bright ledger of Pakistan’s economic progress. The coming years are to be built upon a foundation far firmer than before: for where last year our growth languished at 2.5%, this year we see clear signs of renewal.

Our economic strategy for 2024–29 is a soaring vision. Inflation has been tamed from the bitter scourge of 11% down to a manageable 3.5%; remittances have bestowed upon us the dignity of a current account surplus of several billion dollars. Transparency and competence have marked these endeavours. The Federal Budget for 2025–26 placed the welfare of the people, the commitment to development, and the strengthening of our defences side by side, with a growth target of 4.2%—a clear signpost to progress.

Pakistan: A Nation Forged in Faith, Preserved in Sacrifice
And yet, let us be assured—Pakistan marches not only in the realm of military valour, but also upon the solid ground of economic endeavour. In the recent fiscal year, growth stood at 2.7%; inflation was reined in, remittances surged, and the great works of development advanced apace. Initiatives such as Uraan Pakistan testify that we are passing from the threshold of stability onto the broad highway of progress.

These figures bear witness that our sacrifices, our trials borne with patience, were never in vain. They speak of a destiny that now raises us to the stature of stability, prosperity, and recognition among the nations.

My brothers, the Fourteenth of August is not given us merely for festivity. It is a solemn reminder: what would have been a lot of the Muslims of the subcontinent had there been no Pakistan? Reflect, I beseech you—without Pakistan, what station, what dignity, what political existence would have remained for us? There would have been no freedom of religion, no pride of identity, no political honour. Without Pakistan, the Muslim world itself would have remained fettered in chains of bondage.

This land, where today flourish our youth in fields of science, arms, technology, and economy; this land, where the flame of Islamic dignity yet burns bright—it might all have been extinguished. Those who raise their voices in the councils of the world, those who bear aloft the national standard upon global forums—they are our sons and daughters. This resolute nation has faced every ordeal with faith and steadfast will.

Did not our Quaid, Muhammad Ali Jinnah (may Allah have mercy upon him), declare that Pakistan was created so that we might be masters of our own destiny, breathe the air of freedom, and make the principles of Islam the charter of our lives?
Fellow countrymen,

In the recent clash with India, the decisive victory witnessed by the eyes of the world was nothing less than the strength of our faith made manifest. The soldiers of Pakistan proved that they are not only guardians of the soil, but sentinels of an eternal idea. That was the hour when the enemy learnt beyond doubt that Pakistan is unconquerable.

But let none imagine that our triumphs are confined to the sword alone. Our economy, too, has set its course upon the road to prosperity. Inflation has fallen, remittances have risen, and projects like Uraan Pakistan herald the promise of our onward journey. These are not mere numbers; they proclaim that Pakistan is no longer a dream alone—it is a reality, a reality that grows in strength with every passing day.

My dear compatriots,
Had Pakistan not come into being, we should still be shackled in chains of slavery—without honour, without dignity. The Muslim world would have been lost in the shadows of humiliation. The Muslims of the subcontinent would have remained under the dominance of a Hindu majority, bereft of religious freedom, bereft of political independence. Their customs, culture, and language would have been suppressed, their identity extinguished, their very existence dissolved. That is why the Pakistan Movement was never a mere political demand: it was the struggle for survival itself, the battle for the future of a people.

Pakistan has given us the priceless gift of freedom, without which there can be no honour, no dignity. Today we may practise our faith without fear, live by our values, and assert our national identity before the world. Without this homeland, we would have been but a subjugated nation, condemned to follow in the footsteps of others—without pride, without independence.

And let it be known: Pakistan is not only a homeland for us, but a beacon for the Muslim world. As a nuclear power, it is both a shield for its people and a symbol of the dignity of the Ummah. Here is the land that proved to the world that when Muslims unite, they can answer their adversaries with crushing force. The very existence of Pakistan has infused courage into the hearts of Muslims everywhere, reminding them that Islam is still a living, complete, and sovereign way of life.

Therefore, let us understand: Pakistan is a divine blessing. Its protection, its progress, and its stability are the solemn duty of us all. If we cherish this gift, if we teach our children its worth, then Pakistan shall remain forever exalted and victorious. It is not merely a tract of soil; it is our honour, our identity, and the guarantee of our radiant future.

It is Pakistan that has bestowed upon us dignity; it is Pakistan that has granted us honour; and it is Pakistan that holds the hope of generations yet unborn.

Remember, too, the immortal words of Iqbal:
افرادکے ہاتھوں میں ہے اقوام کی تقدیر
ہرفردہے ملت کے مقدرکاستارہ
“The fate of nations lies in the hands of individuals;
Each person is a star in the destiny of the nation.”

And never forget that all this was wrought through sacrifice—through the blood of millions of martyrs, through the tears and the honour of unnumbered mothers and sisters. Without their tales of suffering and courage, the history of Pakistan remains incomplete.

Today, on this sacred Day of Independence, I summon the nation:
Let us resolve never to forget these sacrifices.
Let us resolve to stand as one body, one soul, for the defence, progress, and stability of Pakistan.
Let us resolve to make the principles of Islam, the counsel of the Quaid, and the vision of Iqbal the compass of our lives.

And let us recall the promise of the Qur’an:
إِن تَنصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ
“If you aid Allah, He will aid you, and He will make firm your steps.” (Surah Muhammad, 47:7)

The Eternal Promise of Pakistan
And hark—Hafeez Jalandhari’s anthem still courses through our blood with the fire of lightning:
“Blessed be the pure land,
Blessed be the fair country.”

Ladies and gentlemen,
On this day let us resolve—
That we shall hold the honour of Pakistan dearer than life itself.
That we shall never forget the sacrifices of our martyrs.
That we shall tread the paths of knowledge, peace, and progress.
And that we shall declare to the world that Pakistan is not merely a state but an idea—and no idea can ever be vanquished.

Today, the survival and advancement of Pakistan lie in the guardianship of that idea. If we remember the sacrifices of our forebears, if we make the Ideology of Pakistan the compass of our lives, then no force on earth shall bend us. This homeland was not bestowed without cost; it was purchased with the blood of martyrs. Therefore, the safeguarding of every particle of its soil is our sacred duty.

When we cast our eyes around us, it is plain as the midday sun: Pakistan’s true strength is its idea. If we do not allow this lamp to fade, our destinies shall burn all the brighter. This land is the fruit of sacrifice, hallowed by the lifeblood that sanctified its dust. Pakistan is a trust, a covenant, a message—the message of faith, unity, and sacrifice. Let us vow, then, that by honouring the sacrifices of our elders, we shall not only preserve this homeland but raise its flag higher still upon the firmament of the world. That is the true spirit of the Pakistan Idea; that is the pledge of our future.

For Pakistan is not a geography—it is a faith, a certainty, and a promise: the promise made unto Allah and unto our forefathers, that we would fashion this land as the citadel of Islam. Let us pledge that we shall keep this idea alive in our veins as blood, and raise Pakistan ever high among the nations.

Respected audience,
٭Time itself asks us today: have we kept this idea alive? Have we fulfilled the debt of blood ٭owed to the martyrs who transformed a dream into reality? Remember well: Pakistan is not merely a territory; it is a covenant—an oath sworn unto God, a pledge bequeathed to us by our elders. If we make this idea the lodestar of our lives, then no power in this world can subdue us.
٭Let us, on this sacred Independence Day, bind ourselves with this solemn resolve:
٭That we shall guard our homeland not only in words, but in deeds.
٭That we shall carry Pakistan not only as a land, but as a trust.
٭That we shall raise it to new pinnacles of prosperity, of dignity, and of greatness.

Remember—Pakistan is your identity, your honour, your faith. This soil exacts from us a pledge: that we shall prize its dignity above our very lives.

Today, I recall the tears of every mother who gave her son; the silent dreams of every orphaned child; the laughter of every sister who sacrificed a smiling brother. Their sacrifices command us that we defend Pakistan not in rhetoric alone, but with the testimony of our actions.
Pakistan is not earth alone; it is the banner of faith, the saga of sacrifice, the gathering point of Muslim prayers.

So, ladies and gentlemen—when you place your hand upon your heart today, let your soul confess: this is your Pakistan; this is your charge—to cherish it, to serve it, to keep it ablaze with the lamps of fidelity, sacrifice, and love.

Let us declare together—
That we shall hold Pakistan’s honour above our lives.
That we shall never forget the sacrifices of our martyrs.
That we shall march upon the road of learning, of peace, and of progress.
And that we shall proclaim to the world that Pakistan was, is, and by the grace of Allah, shall ever remain alive.
Come then, let us stand firm upon this promise—and make Pakistan upon the map of the world a centre of peace, of progress, and of Islam’s ascendancy.
Long may the banner of Islam be raised!
Long live Pakistan—resplendent and eternal!
Long live the Armed Forces of Pakistan!