After years of rule, India finally gained independence from the British, which led to the partition between the two nations and the creation of Pakistan. To commemorate their 76 years of independence from British colonial rule, neighbouring nations, India and Pakistan will observe their 77th Independence Day this coming week.
By dividing the provinces of Bengal and Punjab, the Indian Independence Act of 1947 established two new independent states: India and Pakistan. According to the Act, "two independent Dominions shall be established in India as of the 15 August 1947, to be known respectively as India and Pakistan."
There is enough data to prove that Pakistan was founded on the same day that India gained independence. So why is Pakistan's Independence Day observed one day before, on August 14? The answer to this question has been answered through numerous theories over the years.
One of the reasons is that Pakistan Standard Time (PST) and Indian Standard Time (IST) are 30 minutes apart. The celebrations were held a day earlier because India gained its independence at 00:00 on August 15; as a result, local time in Pakistan was 11:30 pm on August 14.
One explanation connects it to Lord Mountbatten's hectic schedule as the last Viceroy of British India. Power was to be transferred before June 1948, but Mountbatten's decision to declare August 15 as both nations' Independence Days accelerated the process. On August 14, 1947, he travelled to Karachi to hand over control of Pakistan to Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
According to a different theory, the decision was made by the cabinet. It was suggested in June 1948 at a cabinet meeting presided over by Pakistan's first prime minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, that the nation observes its Independence Day before India. Jinnah gave his approval, and the date was moved up to August 14.
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