PROTOCOL NATIONAL FLAG

1.

Background.

The national flag of Pakistan was designed by Syed Amir

uddin Khidwai and was based on the original flag of the Muslim League adopted in its
present form during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947, just three
days before the country's independence, when it became the official flag of Pakistan. The
flag is a green field with a white crescent moon and five-rayed star at its centre, and a
vertical white stripe at the hoist side. Though the green colour is mandated only as 'dark
green', its official and most consistent representation is Pakistan green, which is shaded
distinctively darker.
2.

The flag is referred to in the national anthem as Parcham-e-Sitra-o-Hill in Persian.

It is flown on several important days of the year including Republic Day and Independence
Day. The design was adopted on August 11, 1947, which is also considered as Flag Day in
Pakistan. Flag raisers in Pakistan also make a point of hoisting the flag each year on the
fourteenth day of August. That is considered to be Pakistans Independence Day.

3.

Design and Specifications.

The official design of the national flag was adopted

by the Constituent Assembly together with a definition of the features and proportions.
According to the specifications it is a dark green rectangular flag in the proportion of length
[A] and width [B] as 3:2 with a white vertical bar at the mast, the green portion bearing a
white crescent in the centre and a five-pointed white heraldic star. The size of the white
portion is one quarter the size of the flag [C], nearest the mast, so the green portion
occupies the remaining three quarters [D].

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Draw a diagonal L3 from the top right hand corner to the bottom left corner of the green
portion. On this diagonal establish two points P1 and P2. P1 is positioned at the centre of
the green portion and P2 at the intersection of the diagonal L3 and an arc C4 created from
the top right hand corner equal to 13/20 the height of the flag [E]. With the centre at point
P1 and a radius 3/10 the height of the flag describe the first circle C1 and with centre at
point P2 and a radius 11/40 the height of the flag describe a second circle C2. The
enclosures made by these two circles form the crescent. The dimensions of the five-pointed
white heraldic star are determined by drawing a circle C3 with a radius 1/10 the height of
the flag positioned between P2 and P3 on the diagonal L3. The circle surrounds the five
points of the heraldic star and star lies with one point on the diagonal L3 at point P3 where
the circle C1 intersects the diagonal L3.
4.

The Interior Ministry of Pakistan provides dimensions for flags in different

circumstances:
a.

For ceremonial occasions. 21' 14', 18' 12', 10' 6' or 9' 6'.

b.

For use over buildings. 6' 4' or 3' 2'.

c.

For cars 24" 16".

d.

For tables 10" 8".

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5.

Description. Green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious

minorities) on the hoist side. A large white crescent and star are centered in the green field.
The crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam.

6.

National flag protocols

a.

No other flag must fly higher (except the United Nations flag at United Nations
buildings).

b.

When displayed or flown alongside other national flags, the National Flag
must be displayed or flown at the same height as the other national flags,
never lower.

c.

When displayed alongside provincial, military or corporate flags, the National

Flag must be higher.

d.

When tied to a mast, it must be tied only at the left (at the beginning of the
white bar) and left to fly freely without any obstruction.

e.

Must not touch the ground, shoes or feet or anything unclean.

f.

Must never be flown in darkness.

g.

Must be raised at dawn and lowered at dusk (except on the Parliament of

Pakistan, which is the only official building on which the flag is never
lowered). When flown over the Parliament of Pakistan at night, it must always
remain alit with artificial light

h.

Must not be marked with anything (including words or pictures).

i.

When raising must be saluted to by all uniformed personnel, others must

stand in attention.

j.

Must be raised or lowered ceremoniously.

k.

Must never be displayed vertically.

l.

When displayed horizontally, the white strip must always be at the left, with
green field on the right.

m.

Must not fly or be displayed upside down or with the crescent and star facing
left.

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n.

Must not be displayed anywhere where it is likely to get dirty.

o.

Must not be set on fire or trampled upon.

p.

Must not be buried or lowered into a grave (when burying a flag-bearing

casket, the National Flag must be detached from the casket and held above
the grave as the casket is lowered or removed from the casket before burial).

PROTOCOL OF OTHER NATIONAL FLAGS

When the National Flag is carried in a procession or parade, it shall be on the

a.

marching right or in front of the center of the line, if there is a line of other flags.
The National Flag or any imitation of it must not be used for purpose of trade,

b.

business, or profession.
According to flag code of India citizens of India did not had the right to hoist the

c.

Indian flag except for some important days like Republic day, Independence day and
Mahatma Gandhi's birthday. A renowned industrialist Naveen Jindal challenged this
in the court as when he hoisted the flag on his office building he was told not to do
so as it may be taken as a breach of code of Indian flag. Then he lodged a PIL
(Public Interest Litigation) in the court now the decision of the court is pending in this
regard but permission has been granted to Indian citizens to hoist the flag on any
day but in a respectable manner.
d.

A tattered or faded flag should be removed and replaced.

e.

A national flag should never be flown above another National flag on the same pole.
This implies superiority/inferiority.

f.

If a national flag is to be used on a coffin, it should be placed so that the topleft corner of the flag is over the deceaseds left shoulder. The flag should be
removed before interment or cremation and folded.

g.

When five or more flags are displayed in a line, two national flags should appear at
both ends of the line.

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SOP HALF MAST FLAG

The flag should be lowered the depth of the flag. If the flag is 6ft x 3ft (fig 2) it should be
lowered 3ft (fig 3). There is a strict discipline for hoisting and lowering the flag on such
occasions. The flag should be slowly and reverently hoisted hoisted aloft (fig 1) to its full
extremity (fig 2) before slowly being lowered to the correct depth of the flag 'half mast"
position (fig 3). When taking the flag down it should again be hoisted to the top of the pole
then reverently lowered to the ground.

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Khurram.kay22@gmail.com

SOP FOR DISPOSAL

As a revered symbol to our independence, the flag of Pakistan needs to be treated with the
utmost respect by all. This respect extends to the flag's eventual retirement and
destruction. No procedure for disposal is given in Pakistan Flag Rules 2002 (Ministry of
Interior). However, a suggested guide to dispose of a worn or damaged Pakistani flag with
the respect it deserves is appended below:Procedure
a.

To bury the flag, begin by finding a dignified wooden box - it should be of good
quality and construction, as this box will serve as the flag's vessel, when placed
inside the ground.

b.

Fold the flag respectfully and place it in the box and bury the flag in the earth. You
may choose to mark the burial location of the flag with a small, respectful wooden or
stone marker.

c.

Before burying the flag, you may also shred the flag. Few countries adopt the
shredding method before burial (US Army's Heraldry Institute). It is recommended
that crescent and star to be separated first and then remaining flag to be slices into
14 pieces (In connection with 14 Aug) equally, from green to white.

d.

You may even consider giving a short "funeral" for the flag. Recite national anthem
and lower that box into the ground.

Funeral SOP
a.

Select a neat and clean place, preferably a military grave yard with allocated space
for burial of National Flags.

b.

Area must be walled / marked to deny unauthorized entries.

c.

Location must be marked like a grave and a record must be kept for each burial.

d.

No Flag other than national flag to be buried (i.e. political, organizational etc.)

e.

Observe a moment of silence as the flag is buried.

f.

Ensure no jokes / irrelevant talks around the scene.

Khurram Tariq Kayani

Khurram.kay22@gmail.com

Khurram Tariq Kayani

Khurram.kay22@gmail.com