Sunday, November 08, 2020

Tale of Waxing and Waning Crescent

The national flag of Pakistan symbolizes Pakistan's commitment to Islam and the rights of religious minorities. The green represents the Muslim majority in Pakistan and the white stripe represents religious minorities. The crescent represents progress and the five-pointed star represents light and knowledge. As the Crescent and Star is the most prominent part of Flag, it became the national symbol which can be incorporated in to state issued articles including Postage Stamps, Coins, Currency Notes, Stamp Papers, State Emblem, Government Stationary etc.

Pakistan Flag

To delve into the genesis of the Pakistan flag, the All India Muslim League used the Islamic ‘Subz Hilali Parcham’ meaning ‘green flag with the crescent’, since its inception in 1906, in Dacca.

All India Muslim League Flag

At the All India Muslim League’s Lucknow session in 1937, Mohammad Ali Jinnah pronounced that the League’s green flag – the flag of Islam, to be the national flag for the ‘Land of the Pure’. I feel confident that once they understand and realize the policy and program of the Muslim League, the entire Musalman population of India will rally round its platform and under its flag. So said Mohammad Ali Jinnah in his Presidential address. 

Meeting after 1937 Session

If you look at the crescent in Pakistan’s flag, it is facing the right side which means it’s a waning crescent, but it should be a waxing crescent (facing on the left side) which represents progress and growth. But as the flag is two-sided and always flows from left to right this contention is refutable.

Keeping the flag in mind initial postage stamps, currency notes, and coins issued by the Government of Pakistan contains the same position of crescent and star (facing on the right side).

Postage Stamps (1948) 









Coins (1948)

Currency Notes (1948-49)

But soon it is realized that only a flag can be exempted, for all other things a waxing crescent (facing on the left side) should be implemented. After that postage stamps, currency notes, and coins were redesigned with the implementation of a waxing crescent.

Postage Stamps (1949)

Coins (1950)

Currency Notes (1951 onward)

Even the state emblem of Pakistan which was adopted in 1954 contains the left facing waxing crescent.

State Emblem