Why Pakistan and Turkish flags look same-fusionstories

Flags represent and portray the reason for the country’s existence and visions to the rest of the world. Many countries take a lot of time and spend a lot of money to fabricate their flags. The Pakistani flag was designed in 1947 based on All India Muslim League's flag and that flag design was inspired by the flags of the Ottoman and Mughal empires. That is why Pakistan and Turkish flags are similar in appearance.  Now let us tell you the inspiration and the idea behind

putting the crescent with a star and adopting a green color while designing of Pakistani flag.

In Pakistan's national anthem, Pakistani flag is called a "parachm e sitara o hilal" which means a flag with a crescent and a star on it. We all have read in our textbooks that the crescent shows prosperity and a five cornered star depicts the five pillars of Islam. The green color shows the Muslim majority and a white portion signs to none Muslim minorities of Pakistan.

In actuality, the Pakistani flag was designed with minor changes in the flag of the All India Muslim League. All India Muslim League was the party that struggled for the formation of Pakistan.

The flag of "All India Muslim League"

Ottoman Empire and Turkey have had a great impact and drove many inspirations on Muslims of the sub-continent while they were struggling for a separate homeland, Pakistan. One example of this inspiration is a design of a Pakistani flag which is close to the Turkish flag with a difference of base color. The crescent and a star are an icon which is mostly referred to as a symbol of the Ottoman Empire to represent Islam.

The flag of "Ottoman Empire" in later times

The idea of a crescent and a star on the Pakistani flag was adopted by the Ottoman’s traditional flags.  The Ottoman emperors had different flags in their reign, but crescent and a star were a part of their flags and the same tradition was followed by Turkey's modern flag.  The Muslims of the subcontinent had a great religious attachment with the Ottoman sultanate. Many Muslims took part in the khilafat movement after World War 1. Then where does the green color come from on the Pakistani flag?

Let's move back to history and come to know, the more interesting facts about the history and idea of the Pakistani flag.

Mughals ruled the subcontinent for more than three centuries and used different flags in their rule. In the early period of the Mughal empire's flag got the signs of a sun and a lion on them, which mostly were known to represent Hazrat Ali and Karbala. Mughal flags were called "Alam" and had moss green color in the base. Some Mughal flags "Alam" are here:

Mughal flag at Akbar's time 

Another Mughal flag 

In later times, the Mughal flags adopted an idea of a crescent on them and turned simpler.

This is a simple green flag from Delhi sultanate which was ruled by Bahadur Shah Zafar till the time, the British killed his sons and terminator the empire. This flag was captured and abandoned in 1857 from the Red Fort Delhi. All Mughal flags vary in design, style, and appearance, but green color, is one common feature among all. 

Last Mughal flag from "Delhi Sultanate" captured in 1857 

 The idea of the crescent and a star was adopted by the Ottoman Empire of that time and the green color was taken from the flags of Mughals. Mostly Pakistani thinks that as Green is a favorite color of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), so the color was chosen to represent Muslims on the Pakistani flag.

After the formation of Pakistan, Amir ud Din Kudwai designed the new flag of Pakistan keeping all India Muslim league flag as it's model. A stripe of white color was added to represent the minorities. Quaid e Azam chose Master Altaf Hussain to stitch the first flag of Pakistan. He was the first man who stitched Pakistani flag and the flag was approved in assembly on 11th August 1947. I hope you like the journey and idea behind the design of Pakistan flag.

Long live Pakistan.