MARCH 23 was observed as Pakistan Resolution Day all over the country with great enthusiasm. A grand military parade, followed by a grand air show by Pakistan Air Force, was the hallmark of this national celebration day. The jumbo-sized portrait of the Quaid donning the Jinnah cap was displayed at the parade venue.

The Quaid and his close associates wore sherwanis, shalwars/pyjamas and Jinnah caps as their headdress at the venue of the Pakistan Day Resolution at Minto Park, Lahore, on March 23, 1940. Sher-i-Bangla A.K.Fazal-ul-Haque, who presented the Pakistan Resolution, wore sherwani-pyjama and Jinnah cap.

The Quaid’s dress, with Jinnah cap, became the national dress after independence and, hence, the national dress code for Pakistanis on days of national significance.

I was surprised to see that our dignitaries were not donning the Jinnah cap on their shalwar-sherwani dress, more so when they were being saluted around by officers and jawans of our valiant armed forces. Some of the ministers chose to wear Western dresses. The national dress code needs to be followed by our rulers.

I. H. Khan

Lahore

Published in Dawn March 26th , 2015

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