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The State Emblem of Pakistan was adopted in 1954 and symbolises the ideological foundation of the country, the basis of its economy, cultural heritage, and guiding principles.[2]
Punjabi artist Abdur Rahman Chughtai was the designer of the first state emblem for Pakistan. On 18 May 1948, the design was approved by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, governor-general of Pakistan. The second design was adopted in 1954. It was designed by Meraj Muhammad, an artist from Dera Ghazi Khan, who was an alumnus of the Mayo School of Arts.[3]
The four components of the emblem are a crescent and star crest above an escutcheon, which is surrounded by a wreath, below which is a scroll.[2] The crest and the green color of the emblem are considered traditional symbols of Islam. The quartered shield in the center shows cotton, wheat, tea, and jute, which were the major crops of Pakistan at independence and are shown in the form of escutcheon and signify the main agricultural base for the importance of the Nation's economy.[2] The floral wreath, surrounding the shield, is Jasminum officinale (the national flower) and represents the floral designs used in traditional Mughal art and emphasizes the cultural heritage of Pakistan.[2] The scroll supporting the shield contains the national motto in Urdu, "Īmān, Ittiḥād, Naẓm", which reads from right to left: (ایمان، اتحاد، نظم), translated as "Faith, Unity, Discipline" which are intended as the guiding principles for Pakistan.[4]
