Google adorns Pakistan's homepage with nationalistic doodle

Published August 14, 2014
The image shows the Google doodle for August 14 on Pakistan's Google homepage.
The image shows the Google doodle for August 14 on Pakistan's Google homepage.

Today Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day and Google has contributed to our celebration by gracing Pakistan’s Google homepage with a nationalistic doodle for Independence Day.

The doodle depicts the Pakistan Monument, a blooming flower-shaped symbol of Pakistan.

Google puts a lot of thought into its Google doodles, producing between 300 and 400 doodles each year — around 50 of these tend to be moving or interactive.

Google often plans what doodles it will embellish its homepage with months in advance and often illustrators take weeks to perfect the selected designs.

The Pakistan Monument is one of Pakistan’s most prominent monuments.

Before its construction, the Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP) held a competition to find the design which best represented Pakistan and its people and Arif Masood’s design was ultimately selected.

The giant granite structure is comprised of petals resembling a blooming flower which is meant to be a symbol of Pakistan’s blooming progress as a nation.

The four main petals represent the four provinces of Pakistan — Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the three smaller petals represent the three territories Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

The inner walls of the petals are adorned with murals based on designs from Islamic architecture and structures.

The central platform is designed in the form of a five-pointed star and is surrounded by water.

When seen from above, the structure resembles a star and crescent moon, representing the Pakistani flag, making the monument an adroit choice for a Google doodle and just perfect for Independence Day.

Opinion

First line of defence

First line of defence

Pakistan’s foreign service has long needed reform to be able to adapt to global changes and leverage opportunities in a more multipolar world.

Editorial

Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
31 Mar, 2025

Women’s rights

PAKISTAN’S legal system has issued some important rulings in recent days concerning women, which deserve more...
Not helping
31 Mar, 2025

Not helping

THE continued detention of Baloch Yakjehti Committee leaders — including Dr Mahrang Baloch in Quetta and Sammi ...
Hard habits
Updated 30 Mar, 2025

Hard habits

Their job is to ensure that social pressures do not build to the point where problems like militancy and terrorism become a national headache.
Dreams of gold
30 Mar, 2025

Dreams of gold

PROSPECTS of the Reko Diq project taking off soon seem to have brightened lately following the completion of the...
No invitation
30 Mar, 2025

No invitation

FOR all of Pakistan’s hockey struggles, including their failure to qualify for the Olympics and World Cup as well...