RAWALPINDI: As Pakistan celebrates its 75th Independence Day on Saturday, here are some of the most memorable moments of 2021 that have made headlines and the rounds on social media, boosting the national spirit with pride or smile.  

First Pakistani qualifies for Olympics track and field event

At the Tokyo Olympics that concluded last weekend, two Pakistanis raised national spirts: javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem and weightlifter Talha Talib, although neither of them had won.
Nadeem qualified for the javelin final and was aiming to become the first to win an individual medal for his nation since 1988. He finished fifth as Neeraj Chopra bagged the best throw to claim a historic first Olympic athletics gold medal for India.
Talib, competing in the 67kg men's contest, was at the top of the race before being surpassed by athletes from China, Colombia, and Italy in final attempts.
While they did not make it to the Olympic podium, Nadeem and Talha have since won the nation's hearts.
On Saturday, both wished Pakistanis a happy Independence Day.

Nida Dar becomes first Pakistani cricketer to take 100 wickets in T20I

In July, Nida Dar became Pakistan's first cricketer who had taken more than 100 wickets in T20 internationals. The 34-year-old right-arm bowler accomplished the feat while playing a match against West Indies, took 2 for 15, taking her tally to 101 wickets in international T20 tournaments. She is now among six world cricketers who have achieved this milestone.

Babar Azam dethrones India's Virat Kholi as No. 1 batsman in ODI ranking

In April, Pakistan captain Babar Azam ended Virat Kohli’s long reign at the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings, becoming only the fourth batsman from his country to attain number one position in the rankings of the International Cricket Council. From playing on the streets of Lahore to the top of the world, Azam has officially climbed a peak unreached by any Pakistani since Mohammad Yousuf. 

'Pawri' video brings India and Pakistan closer

A viral video shot in Pakistan by teen Dananeer Mobeen in February turned into a remix by Indian composer Yashraj Mukhate, has been viewed nearly 70 million times on YouTube and has landed the young influencer brand deals. But most impressive of all, Mobeen's humorous video managed to bring together Pakistanis and Indians to share a laugh. 
The Pakistan Cricket Board shared a video of the national team doing their version of the "pawri" clip after winning a series against South Africa. 

Viral friendship break-up meme by Pakistani youth fetches $51,530 in NFT sale

One of Pakistan’s most viral memes, “Friendship ended with Mudasir,” was auctioned in a non-fungible token (NFT) sale for $51,530 on World Friendship Day on July 30. 
An NFT is a crypto asset, representing an intangible digital item such as an image, video, or in-game item. Owners of NFTs are recorded on blockchain, allowing an NFT to be traded as a stand-in for the digital asset it represents.

The 2015 meme was created by Muhammad Asif Raza, a resident of Gujranwala, to announce the "end" of his friendship with Mudasir Ismail Ahmad and the start of a new one with Salman Ahmad Naqash. From its humble beginning on Facebook, the graphic transformed into a pop cultural artefact, edited and remixed by meme connoisseurs and social media users around the world.

Barack Obama's summer playlist features song by Pakistani artist

Last month, Pakistani artist Arooj Aftab was featured in the annual summer playlist of former US President Barack Obama. Her interpretation of a famous Urdu ghazal, "Mohabbat," was alongside Ella Fitzgerald, Jay-Z, The Rolling Stones, Drake and Bob Dylan.
Obama called the list "a mix of old and new, household names and emerging artists, and a whole lot in between."

Aftab has lived in the US for nearly two decades since she left Pakistan for Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music. The 36-year-old began to make headlines in 2018, when National Public Radio (NPR) listed her "Lullaby" as one of the 200 Greatest Songs by 21st Century Women+ and the New York Times celebrated her "Island No 2" among the Best Classical Music Tracks of 2018.