Pakistan Declaration facts for kids

The Pakistan Declaration was a special paper published in January 1933. It was also known by its full title, Now or Never; Are We to Live or Perish Forever? This paper was very important because it was the first time the word Pakistan was officially used.

At the time, the area that would become Pakistan was part of British India, which was ruled by the British. The declaration was a big step towards creating an independent country.

What Was the Pakistan Declaration?

The Pakistan Declaration was like a short book or a strong message called a pamphlet. It was published in January 1933. Its main goal was to ask for a new, independent country. This country would be separate from the rest of India.

Who Wrote It?

The declaration was written by a student named Choudhary Rahmat Ali. He was studying in England at the time. He had a big idea for the future of Muslims in British India.

What Did It Ask For?

The pamphlet asked for "the five Northern units of India" to become their own independent state. These five areas were:

• Punjab
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (which was called the Afghan Province)
• Kashmir
• Sindh
• Baluchistan

If you take the first letters of these areas, they spell "PAKSTAN." This is how the name Pakistan came to be. The declaration wanted these areas to be a separate country and not part of India.

Why Was It Important?

After the Pakistan Declaration was published, the name "Pakistan" became very popular. It helped people imagine a new, independent country. This idea led to a big movement called the Pakistan Movement. This movement worked to create a separate homeland for Muslims in British India.

Fourteen years after the pamphlet was published, in 1947, Pakistan finally became an independent state. The Pakistan Declaration played a key role in making this dream a reality.

Images for kids

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  A map of British India from 1922, showing the regions mentioned in the Pakistan Declaration.