From the crackling sound of the radio in the 1960s to curated playlists on smartphones today, Pakistan’s national songs continue to stir the hearts of millions. Played across the country on Independence Day (14th August), Pakistan Resolution Day (23rd March), Defence Day (6th September), or in response to national tragedies such as the 1971 war or the APS school attack in 2014, these songs serve not only as melodies of pride but also as emotional narratives of national resilience, identity, and unity, concluded by the authors in their research work. 

With voices like Mehdi Hassan’s resonant “Apni jaan nazar karoon, apni wafa pesh karoon” and Noor Jehan’s wartime ballad “Ae puttar hatan te nai wikday,” these compositions have long glorified the military’s valor and reinforced narratives of sacrifice. Many Pakistanis, regardless of age or background, feel a visceral emotional response to these anthems. One of the participants in our study, Zahra Fatima, recounts how her grandfather, though suffering from Alzheimer’s, responds with spirited chants of “Pakistan Zindabad!” when national songs play, a testament to their deep-seated imprint on the national psyche.

Beyond mere patriotism, national songs have........

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