India conflict fires up Pakistan's Independence Day fervor, boosts flag sales
The two nuclear-armed neighbors, which have fought three major wars since 1947, engaged in their deadliest fighting in decades this May. The fighting ended on May 10 after US mediation, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government declaring victory and saying it had downed at least six Indian fighter jets.
Officials have since linked the conflict's outcome to the heightened national fervor surrounding August 14 this year, reflected in booming flag markets and sales of other Independence Day paraphernalia.
'Our business, all the businesses have grown 50 percent,' said VIP Flags CEO Nisar Ahmed Sheikh, adding that much of his stock had been sold to marchers rallying in support of Pakistan's armed forces during the war with India.
VIP Flags manufactures flags for domestic customers, the armed forces, and international buyers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and holds Guinness World Records for the largest flags made in 2004 and 2008.
Sheikh said sales this year would likely run into millions of units.
'Obviously when people were filled with passion [after the war with India] and started hoisting flags, the flags business saw an uptick and increased compared to last year,' he told Arab News.
'It is still growing and people are putting flags on their cars, bicycles and motorcycles.'
Sheikh said the surge in sales extended well beyond flags, with market vendors incorporating Independence Day themes into a wide range of products — from shirts, mufflers and headbands to shawls, dresses and children's clothing — creating a vibrant festive atmosphere.
'People must be spending billions of rupees on this (celebrations) and this spending boosts the economy,' the CEO said.
In Pakistan's commercial hub of Karachi ahead of Aug. 14, large and small flags adorned vehicles, houses and office buildings, alongside buntings and night-time illuminations. Meanwhile, federal and provincial governments are holding daily events, with top officials like the prime minister and army chief expected to attend ceremonies in Islamabad on Aug. 13 and 14.
'The last time we saw such a show of national zeal on Independence Day was in Zia's time,' Sheikh said, referring to former military ruler Zia-ul-Haq. 'We see people decorating their houses, vehicles and vicinities with flags and buntings and badges.'
Abdul Wahab, a finisher at one of Sheikh's factories, said he expected at least a 25 percent income increase this season.
'We are seeing a rush in the market because of this war we recently fought with India,' said the 26-year-old, who plans to work overtime to meet demand.
For lawyer Bad-e-Saba, the occasion was a chance to pass on a message to the next generation.
'The war we recently won against Hindustan is a matter of great pride for us. We want to convey it to our children so they could know where we are standing against our enemy,' she said.
'We want to tell our enemies that we can take good care of our country and our next generation will do it better.'
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