Pakistani "Day of
Self-Reliance"
The final day of an annual week-long festival held in Pakistan to celibrate and give thanks to Allah for making Pakistan the seventh nuclear power on May 28, 1998.
In a speech given by President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar during the 1999 celebrations, he said Yaum-e-Takbeer symbolises
Pakistan's firm belief in unflinching determination to defend the country and national self-respect, and that Pakistan is a peace loving nation having no aggressive designs against any country. This is indicative of the national position on Yaum-e-Takbeer: it is more a celebration of Pakistani self-reliance, ingenuity, strength and progress than a celebration of Pakistan's new-found ability to end the world as we know it. The government also funds five-crore-rupees-worth of scholarships for students of the sciences awarded during this time.
In any case, Pakistan seems determined to prevent starting an arms race in the region, and news reports on Yaum-e-Takbeer tend to highlight attempts to better the standard of living in Pakistan, or, on occasion, the international scientific community.