Why Celebrating National Days at Work Matters

This event has been etched in our memories since childhood, when we sang our National Anthem and patriotic songs at Independence Day events. The feeling of elation and inner joy at seeing the flag of Pakistan being hoisted and listening to the sound of our patriotic national anthem seeks to boost the spirits of co-workers across the country. Hosting numerous events to mark Independence Day at the office, helps to build a sense of togetherness and the recognition of a common goal towards which every member (of the workspace) aims to arrive. This day is when coworkers of all backgrounds, come together regardless of their ethnic and national differences to mark a feeling of brotherhood that leads to strengthened team spirit.

The importance and historical significance of Pakistan’s Independence Day

On our Independence Day in Pakistan, we mark the sacrifices of our forefathers to achieve a free country and to be able to live the way that we want to. It makes us recall the cherished freedoms we enjoy at work and feel grateful for who we are and our national identity. We also remember the contributions of our military servicemen and guardians whose compassionate and unrepayable actions permit us to live freely. Celebration of the Independence Day of Pakistan in the office enhances worker solidarity by promoting a feeling of association and contentment with their national heritage. There can be many effective ways of using Independence Day celebrations to create a strong sense of community and gratitude in the workplace. The first and most obvious way of getting your workspace ready for 14^th August is to decorate it in a green and white theme mainly driven by national flags.

Independence Day dresses and decoration ideas for workspaces across Pakistan

Secondly, you need to set an Independence Day costume guideline for all workers attending the event including traditional dresses in green and white colors. Workstations can also be arranged with miniature flags and other patriotic-themed office gadgets or a “Most Pakistani Desk” contest where employees compete for the best desk in the workspace. Other festive arrangements include an innovative lighting display, a themed entrance to the workspace with a photo booth, and patriotic mounts. Activities such as quizzes based on Pakistan’s history in general, freedom fighters, and the struggle to achieve independence can be interesting ways of passing knowledge to workers while also bringing them closer to each other, at the same time. This can include movie trivia of specific historical events marking Pakistan’s Freedom Struggle. Offering prizes for winners of such trivia can make it more encouraging and rewarding for the effort put into thinking about the answers.

Arts exhibition and patriotic movie screening activities for Independence Day

Arts and design contests where workers are required to create posters, paintings, or collages reflecting on Independence Day themes promote creativity and provide a showcase for artists to present their skills. You could also transform your office walls by using murals and paintings representing national emblems, factual events related to the freedom struggle, and major freedom fighters. This action will create a lasting memory of the contributions, of major leaders from the historical freedom struggle that created Pakistan. Similarly, to cement the image of the Pakistani freedom struggle workplaces can organize patriotic movie screenings on 14^th August. Movies that can be watched together to celebrate Independence Day in Pakistan include Jinnah, Saya E Khuda E Zuljalal, Ghazi Shaheed, and Madar-e-Watan.

Public Speaking events for Independence Day and food to share during this celebration in Pakistan

By creating an atmosphere where workers are free to express their feelings about their love for their country and share with others their achievements or simply knowledge about the freedom movement of Pakistan, you can create a sense of motivation and pride among members of your workspace. If you can get a guest speaker from the Pakistan Army, Navy, Airforce, police, or a civil society public speaker to provide their knowledge about the country’s formation or share personal work experiences it will be a memorable event for most office workers and inspire them for a long time. Organizing an Independence Day potluck at your office can be a handy way to involve coworkers from different communities to share meals from their culture or preference with fellow members. This activity enlightens members (of the workplace), on the wide range of cuisines and dishes belonging to various regions of Pakistan. Similarly, you can host an Independence Day cake-cutting event at your workspace and share the cake with each member after blowing out the candles. The candles can be a number 7 placed twice on the cake to mark 77 years of independence. The Independence Day cake can have the image of our national flag created with icing or “Pakistan Zindabad” written on it in Urdu.

Social event ideas for dressing up as historical figures and planning fundraisers

Independence Day storytelling sessions can be a way to gain from the experience, of more senior members of the workspace by hearing their stories about historical events that led up to 14^th August 1947. Planning charity exhibitions on Independence Day can provide workers with the opportunity, to raise funds, for donating to NGOs or specific charities. Members can sell their food, clothes, or other personal items at these fairs and donate the proceeds of these sales to the poor or needy people of society. Setting up a patriotic photo booth area at the workplace can be done by using scenes illustrating national themes such as the Jinnah cap, Pakistani flags, and other Independence Day-themed photo frames. This booth can also include photos brought by individual members relating to Jinnah, Iqbal, or other revolutionaries of Pakistan. Organizing a Founding Fathers costume contest can be an inspiring way to recreate the environment leading to the formation of Pakistan and take viewers back in time to experience the freedom struggle firsthand.

Creating a Historical Documents Archive at your workspace

Such an event requires encouraging workspace members to select, their favorite Independence Day Dress to wear at the function, based on a famous historical personality such as Jinnah, Allama Iqbal, or Liaquat Ali Khan. You could make these workers compete with each other for the best costume award and also ask them to present a speech on their selected personality’s role in achieving the Independence of Pakistan. Creating a display (of replicas) of important historical documents at the workplace can also provide information for members to discover their roots and learn about the main founding values of Pakistan. These documents could include the Lahore Resolution and the 1971 constitution, of Pakistan among others.

Leave the event with endless memories of community activities and participating in patriotic celebrations

The most memorable part of Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations will be learning new aspects related to the same old historical events that created our great nation. Through the Independence Day speeches, guest speaker's comments, and thrilling and emotional scenes in patriotic movies members will be able to remember this 14^th August like no other. This day unites all office workers across Pakistan in celebrating their priceless gift of independence through activities that develop a sense of togetherness and fraternity. Remember that planning events for this celebration is an investment that will reap benefits for your workspace all year round so don’t forget to be ready with all your festive plans before the 14^th of August 2024.