Pakistan will celebrate the 70th anniversary of independence this year. As part of the celebrations, a competition was held by the government to unveil the official logo for the historic milestone.

The competition ‘Mein Hun Pakistan’ (I am Pakistan) received from four hundred entries from 200 participants from across the country.

The winner was announced in a ceremony held on July 14, which was attended by Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb and Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique.

The state minister said the purpose of the competition was to create awareness among the new generation regarding the importance of sacrifices made by our forefathers in the creation of a separate homeland.

The logo has a colourful crescent and star overlapping the number 70, and reflects the “theme of celebrations and promotion of the cultural diversity of the country.”

The winner, Saba Zaman, is third year student at the at National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad and won a prize of Rs500,000.

However, Saba has garnered criticism on social media. Many expressed disappointment over the lack of creativity and that she won the contest merely on good luck.

Some criticised that they wasted their live in graphic designing and others, while others said they only imagine what other logo looked like that the government was compelled to choose this one.

@pmln_org How is this even a #Logo?

I can do a way better one! and I don’t even Do it full-time!#PakistanZindabad #Pakistan🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/i9aGJez9ld — Zohair Allibhoy (@allibhoyzohair) July 19, 2017

Out of 400 entries, Minister like Maryam Aurangzeb selected this one as our 70 years independence day logo. Not good.#PakistanZindabad pic.twitter.com/mbHpwV4wCj — kamran syed (@kamran2513) July 18, 2017

And this is what they came out with?! pic.twitter.com/JQ5ziovq8J — Durriyah Rehman (@durriyah_r) July 18, 2017

Marriyum Aurangzeb had said that 200 artists had submitted 400 entries to design the logo. pic.twitter.com/t3SK2UfOiM — The Brief (@thebriefintl) July 18, 2017

It’s not just the bad design, the thing that really grates me is that the crescent and star aren’t even in proper proportion. https://t.co/qxSzpjJ4wW — Rizla. (@RizWanKenobi_) July 19, 2017

Tbh that 70 years of independence logo looks like a half assed attempt like the designer herself didnt really expect to win — KarachiKiJaneAusten (@Aamphilosofine) July 18, 2017

why didn’t anyone tell me there was a shitty logo design competition i can design logos far shittier and uglier than this pic.twitter.com/2VJWdBMKK4 — mashable (@mashaallriaz) July 18, 2017

500,000 for this? THIS? Can’t believe these “artists” end up fooling so many, so easily. pic.twitter.com/cBS2rhcmkQ — Haris (@manlikewaddupp) July 18, 2017

The Official Logo of Pakistan’s 70 Years of Independence Celebration has Traumatized Every Pakistani! https://t.co/wtY710wcNi — Kinfolks (@TheKinfolks) July 19, 2017

Sabah also responded to all criticism on Facebook saying:

“Those who said they could have done a better job so let me tell you it was an open competition you could have applied and might have done much better than me for sure.

“Thanks for your criticism because it made me even stronger”

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