KARACHI – As Pakistan marks Independence Day with nationwide flag-hoisting ceremonies, patriotic songs, and tributes to the armed forces, one familiar debate has returned — is it the 78th or 79th?
The confusion stems from whether you count 1947 as “year zero” or “year one.” History — and simple maths — show that Pakistan’s first Independence Day was 14 August 1947. That makes 14 August 2025 the 79th Independence Day.
Step-by-step count:
1947 → 1st Independence Day
1948 → 2nd Independence Day
1949 → 3rd Independence Day
…
2024 → 78th Independence Day
2025 → 79th Independence Day
The calculation can also be done with a quick formula:
Current year – 1947 = anniversary year
For 2025: 2025 – 1947 = 78 → 78th anniversary.
Current year – 1947 + 1 = Independence Day number
For 2025: 2025 – 1947 + 1 = 79 → 79th Independence Day.
This means that while Pakistan is celebrating the 78th anniversary of independence, the day itself is the 79th time the nation has marked its birth.
The celebrations this year also carry special significance, coming just months after Pakistan’s armed forces’ landmark victory in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos. Across the country, the focus is on unity, progress, and building a better future.
