For the sixth year running, a small army of volunteers from Indus Motor Company (IMC) set off on a drive to salvage national flags strewn around Karachi, following Independence Day celebrations. Celebrating 14th August is every Pakistanis privilege and as responsible citizens, are duty bound to uphold the national flag’s sanctity and showing it the respect it deserves.

The Independence Day and days leading to it, generate much enthusiasm across the country with every city and neighbourhood decorated with independence-day souvenirs from national flags to buntings to streamers to balloons, etc. However, these flags which one finds fluttering high above ground, are unfortunately found in a pitiful state hanging torn, in garbage heaps or strewn on the ground, waiting to be carelessly trampled under-foot, an insult to our national pride.

Part of Toyota’s 5S Philosophy, every 15th August, Indus Motor under its CSR banner, Concern Beyond Cars, has been dutiful over the years in engaging its employees under the Employee Volunteering Program, to help mitigate this desecration. Over 60 volunteers, clad in Toyota red t-shirts and white baseball caps sporting the crescent and star and equipped with PPEs, moved along six pre-determined separate routes spanning the city, collecting national flags and buntings littered around the city, later buried under the earth on Company’s premises.

IMC’s Chief Executive, Ali Asghar Jamali expressed, “At a time when the mood, by and large, is relatively somber, this experience is a definite morale boost, not just for us but the public in general too, who see our volunteers in action on the roads, salvaging our symbol of pride. This year participation from across the company has been great, in particular, with the female staff joining in, so much so, our CSR team had to stop registration owing to capacity limitations. No doubt every Pakistani really values the kaumi parcham but seeing it on the ground, soiled, tattered and stepped upon is not a good feeling; painful I would say. I hope we can all be more cautious and give the national flag the respect it rightfully commands.”

The entire group later converged at the Clifton Beach where the team with the biggest haul, was declared the winner and awarded prizes. The activity also generated interest of the general public, who also joined in, considering it a civic duty, and also appreciated IMCs efforts.