Every year, Pakistanis proudly celebrate Independence Day on August 14 but many people still wonder why not August 15 when both Pakistan and India officially gained independence in 1947.
In a recent episode of Geo News’ program Capital Talk, senior journalist Hamid Mir explained the history behind this date change, sharing documented evidence to clear the confusion.
According to Hamid Mir, the Indian Independence Act of 1947 stated that both Pakistan and India would become independent on the same day August 15, 1947. Pakistan’s very first postage stamp even mentioned August 15 as its Independence Day.
So, how did the date shift to August 14? Hamid Mir revealed that the decision came in June 1948, when Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and his federal cabinet agreed to officially mark August 14 as Pakistan’s Independence Day. One key reason was that the transfer of power in Pakistan took place in Karachi on August 14, 1947, while in India it happened on August 15.
There was also a time difference factor. At the moment independence was declared at midnight on August 15 in India, it was still 11:30 p.m. on August 14 in Pakistan. This meant Pakistan had already entered freedom hours before the date officially changed in India.
Hamid Mir also pointed out that even Indian politician Jaswant Singh criticized Lord Mountbatten’s choice of August 15 for India, calling it inappropriate since it coincided with Japan’s surrender in World War II — a date with no connection to India’s freedom struggle.
This mix of historical timing, political decision-making, and symbolism is why Pakistan celebrates its independence on August 14 every year.
