Pakistan flag is the national flag of Pakistan , a country in South Asia. The flag is dark green with a wide vertical white bar along the hoist (side closest to the flagpole). A white crescent and a star stand at the center of the green field. The flag’s green background represents Pakistan’s large Muslim majority. The white bar stands for the nation’s non-Muslim minority groups. Both the color green and the crescent and star are common symbols of Islam . In addition, the crescent on the flag officially stands for progress. The five-pointed star represents light and knowledge.
For many centuries, the areas that now make up Pakistan and India had a common history. During the 1800’s, the United Kingdom gained direct rule over much of the region. It gained indirect control over other areas. In 1885, the Indian National Congress was formed to work for greater self-government in the areas under direct British control. The organization was dominated by Hindus.
In 1906, some Muslims formed a separate political organization called the All-India Muslim League. They adopted a green flag with a white star and crescent. In 1940, the Muslim League began to call for a separate independent Muslim nation. Pakistan and India gained independence as two separate nations in August 1947.
Pakistan adopted a flag that was nearly identical to the flag of the Muslim League. However, the new nation added the white vertical bar to symbolize the minority religious groups in the country.
