ON July 23 while watching the opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympics, I was shocked and annoyed to see the Pakistani contingent with the flag-bearer holding a ‘parrot green’ national flag. The Pakistan flag is dark green in colour which our first prime minister had presented at the opening session of the Constituent Assembly in August 1947 and which was approved by the Quaid-i-Azam and the cabinet.

It was most disappointing to see such a blunder committed at a significant international event. This needs an explanation from all concerned.

The national flag is a symbol of national unity, integrity and honour for which people lay down their lives. In our land, it appears those who approved the ‘parrot green’ cloth as our national flag do not regard this as a grave offence.

I urge the people in power to use all the force at their command to see that this error is never repeated and that the correct colour of the national flag is displayed at all national and international events.

Ameer Taimur Mirza
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2021