Pakistan is planning to hoist a 500-foot flag in Lahore, which will be the tallest flag in the region. The project will cost Rs. 400 million, and the flag-raising ceremony will take place on Pakistan’s Independence Day in 2023.
This project is part of a “tallest flag” competition between Pakistan and India, which started in 2017. India raised a 360-foot flag at the Attari-Wagah border in March 2017, and Pakistan responded by raising a 400-foot flag at the same border on its Independence Day in August 2017. India then raised a 418-foot flag at the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar in October 2017, and now Pakistan plans to raise a 500-foot flag at the Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore.
The competition is seen by some as a way of expressing patriotism and national pride, while others criticize it as a waste of taxpayer money and resources. Some also question the environmental and security implications of having such tall flags, as they may pose a threat to birds and aircraft.
The project is fund by the Punjab government. The flag will made of polyester fabric with a weight of 800 kg. The flagpole will made of steel and concrete and will have a diameter of 12 feet at the base and 4 feet at the top. The flag will have LED lights and a sound system and will be visible from a distance of 15 km.
The flag-raising ceremony will take place on August 14, 2023, which will mark the 76th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence. The ceremony will attended by government officials, dignitaries, and celebrities, and will broadcasted live on national television.