When it comes to it - ours isnt a bad one by any measure, perhaps not quite as refined as the cacophonous din that is the new iraqi one, but hey-
so here is a small writeup thats interesting because it talks about what is, for me atleast an intruguing part of Pakistan's history. The epoch right after the partition probably lasting upto the ayub khan, when the the country and its people had just emerged, blinking and a little dazed from the catalysmic events that sundered 'mother india'-rather like those unexpected survivors plucked out of a collapsed building, still wondering whether they really are really there or not.
Moreover, i found yet another passing mention of another helping hand who pushed things through at just the right moment, and yet, whose name and memory will probably be never recognized by the wider world. Other examples being the nizam of Hyderabad who funneled millions of rupees on private jets when Pakistan's treasury was going to collapse
Pak sarzamin shad bad
Kishware haseen shad bad
Tunishane azmealishan arze Pakistan
Markazeyaqin shadbad.
Pak sarzamin ka nizam quwate akhuwati awam
Qaum, mulk, Sultanat
Painda ta binda bad shad, bad man zele murad.
Parchame sitarao hilal
Rahbare tarraqio ka mal
Tarjumane mazishane hal jane istaqbal
Sayyai, khudae zul jalal.
Blessed be the sacred land,
Happy be the bounteous realm,
Symbol of high resolve,
Land of Pakistan.
Blessed be thou citadel of faith.
The Order of this Sacred Land
Is the might of the brotherhood of the people.
May the nation, the country, and the State
Shine in glory everlasting.
Blessed be the goal of our ambition.
This flag of the Crescent and the Star
Leads the way to progress and perfection,
Interpreter of our past, glory of our present,
Inspiration of our future,
Symbol of Almighty's protection
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan came into existence on 14th August, 1947. On that day, only the national flag, approved by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan three days earlier, was hoisted. To fill the gap, a song, ?Pakistan Zindabad, Azadi Paendabad?, was chosen to be sung in lieu of the national anthem during the hoisting ceremony. The song was represented with appropriate musical tune on an adhoc basis. The government later formed a National Anthem Committee (NAC), under the supervision of Shaikh Muhammad Ikram, the then Information Secretary and a writer of repute. The committee included among others Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, Pirzada Abdus Sattar, Z.A. Bokhari, A.D. Azhar, Kavi Jasimuddin and Hafiz Jullandhri.
In the beginning of 1948, the government of Pakistan received a letter from A.R. Ghani from Transvaal, South Africa, stating that a sum of rupees five thousand each would be awarded to the poet and composer of the anthem. The government made the announcement of the award through a press note published in June 1948. All the noted poets and composers were approached by the NAC but without any encouraging response.
In 1950, the Shah of Iran was to pay a State visit to Pakistan on the special invitation of the government and it was thought desirable to play the anthem on his arrival. The government, therefore, persuaded the NAC to submit the anthem without further delay. The then federal education minister, Fazlur Rahman, was chairman of the committee. He immediately took up the matter and personally requested several poets and composers to do the needful. A number of anthems were written and presented but none was found up to the mark. Meanwhile, lots of tunes were submitted by different composers. The NAC examined them all, and the one presented by Ahmed G. Chagla was selected and submitted to the Cabinet Division for formal approval. Since the Shah?s arrival was nearing, it was decided to play Sindhi musician Chagla?s tune without the text. The noted musician had a masterly command over classical music of the subcontinent and had also studied thoroughly the western way of music. He had been a student in Trinity College of Music, England, and had the privilege of being a pupil of the famous musician, Sir Henry Wood.
On the arrival of the Shah of Iran in 1950 the national anthem was played but government scrutiny of rhythmical notes continued and on January 5, 1954, formal approval was given by the Cabinet in Karachi. Unfortunately, on this joyous occasion Chagla was no longer alive. He had expired eleven months before.
The NAC managed to distribute gramophone records of Chagla?s composed tune among prominent poets of the country for preparing the text. A number of poets tried their luck. The NAC evaluated them all and ultimately okayed one written by Abul Asar Hafiz Jullandhri, the author of Shahnama-e-Islam. It was then submitted to the Central Government for final approval. On August 16, 1954, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting officially announced approval of the government vide its Press Note No. U-148-Z/16-8-1954, Registered No. 1104(280), Karachi. Thus seven years after the foundation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the national anthem was played alongside the hoisting of the flag
http://www.geocities.com/qaisar5/national.html