On Saturday, 28th May 2022, Pakistan is celebrating the 24th anniversary of the nuclear test. This brave action was taken by the Government of Nawaz Shareef and let the morale of Pakistan high in front of the world. It is also celebrated as Youm-e-Takbeer Pakistan.
Youm-e-Takbir or the day of greatness is celebrated each year in order to commemorate the series of nuclear tests of Chagai I and Chagai II. As a result of nuclear tests on 28th May 1998, Pakistan became the seventh nation to possess nuclear weapons in the whole world and got the discrimination to get the first Muslim country to become a nuclear power.
23 years ago on this day, Pakistan restored balance of power in the region by successfully establishing credible minimum nuclear deterrence. AFs and the nation pays tribute to all those involved in making this dream come true. #YoumeTakbeer
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) May 28, 2021
The message conveyed by this day is the immense power of defense of Pakistan and the potential for revival for the entire Muslim world. The whole Muslim community recalls the efforts of how Pakistan became a nuclear power.
History of Youm-e-Takbeer Pakistan
Pakistan started to develop nuclear weapons in January 1972 and make the commitment of having an atomic bomb at the end of 1976. At that time Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the prime minister of Pakistan. Munir Ahmad Khan as a chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) was delegating the atomic program.
The Pakistani government took the decision of making nuclear power due to the loss of East Pakistan in the 1972’s war. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto called the “Multan meeting” and discussed the need of having nuclear weapons. India was continuing harassment and did a nuclear test in May 1974 that is so-called Smiling Buddha.
A nuclear deterrence capability was established by Pakistan at this point. Bhutto brought Dr.Abdul Qadeer Khan, a Pakistan nuclear physicist, from Europe at the end of 1974. Abdul Qadeer Khan is a real hero of Pakistan and he is also known as the father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb.
In May 1998, India conducted a series of five nuclear tests and thought the atomic technology and capability were now exclusively controlled by them in the region. But they were wrong. The next sixth explosion in the same year was done by Pakistan and make the Indians surprised.
On 28th May 1998, Pakistan conducted its first nuclear test on the hills of Chagi which is located in Balochistan. It was done through the joint efforts of Nawaz Shareef and Dr.Abdul Qadeer Khan. the Pakistani scientists transformed the black graphite mountain into a milky white mountain and declared to the world that now they are an unbeatable power of nuclear technology.
Celebrations
This day is celebrated each year as youm-e-takbir as this day is officially signed by Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. When it was celebrated for the first time, Chagai medals and different awards were given to various industries and also in the institutions related to the field of science. In 1998, when there was Nawaz Sharif government, Chagai I medals were given as awards to the scientists who got success in the tests. In those gold medals graphite mountains are shown and they have equal ribbons of yellow, red, and white.
