28th May is marked as an important day in Pakistan’s history as the nation developed capability to deter any preying eye. The day when Pakistan became the nuclear state and redeemed to a more esteemed and powerful position. Today is the 18th Youm-e-Takbeer which Pakistan embraced warmly.
28th May is celebrated as a national day in commemoration of Chagai-1 and Chagai-II when Pakistan detonated seven nuclear devices in response to India’s five detonations of Pokhran-II in 1998, 17 days after the incident.
As for the name, Youm-e-Takbeer, Government asked for proposals from the public to decide the name by which the day could be commemorated. A nationwide campaign was launched to select the name. Thousands of names were proposed by millions of Pakistanis.
This name was proposed by more than one persons, and those persons were given Prime Minister Award.
Our atomic device was named as ‘Islamic Bomb’ as India called its weapon of mass destruction as ‘Smiling Buddha’. After India developed the capability, Pakistan vowed to do the same. We had to face worldwide criticism but the prominent leader of Paksitan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto determinedly proclaimed that we will develop bomb “even if the nation has to eat grass”.
May 28, 1998 was a remarkable day not only for Pakistan but also for the whole region as the threat of unbalanced power in the region lost its existence. May Pakistan being nuclear power would be able to play its due role in maintaining peace in the world.
