'This country was made in front of my eyes'

On 13th August 1947, at 11:59pm, Mustafa Hamdani made the announcement from Lahore that signified that Pakistan has come into being.

Akbar Ali Chugtai was around 6 years old when he heard this announcement from the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation and to this day he remembers how he felt at that very moment. He recalls the exact moment and the emotions he felt when he heard that broadcast.

"We were lying down and my father was waiting. Waiting for the clock to strike midnight. Pakistan's independence was to be announced at the stroke of 12. I think, Mustafa Ali Hamdani was the first announcer of the radio broadcast. He said, 'We are speaking from Radio Pakistan, Lahore,'."

He adds, "Every time I recall that moment, I just cannot control my emotions. This country was made in front of my eyes."

This article is part of a week-long series on achieving independence and the early years of Pakistan, run collaboratively by Images and The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP).

CAP is a non-profit organization dedicated to cultural and historic preservation. It seeks to educate the community, foster an awareness of our nation’s history and instill pride in Pakistani citizens about their heritage.