New year comes knocking: Grimmer the outlook, greater the opportunity

ISLAMABAD:

In all likelihood, by the time you hear a little thud of the delivery boy dropping a copy of today’s paper and whizzing away on his puttering motorbike it will already be a new dawn.

Apparently, noting new or unusual about it.

But it’s how you look at it. To some, it is just another day, another day on the mill and you go about your work as usual. To others, it is the dawn of a promise.

Many would argue how unkind the previous year had been quoting treatment of minority groups, the return of the spectre of energy crises and food prices shooting through the roof. And they have a point.

The ‘eternally optimistic’ among us may counter it by putting the strides we have made on the sociopolitical front, if noting else.

Not a bad time as an occasion to take stock of the past to inform our future and at the risk of sounding clichéd make ‘resolutions’ as well.

The Express Tribune spoke to the nays and ayes of new year’s ritual of looking back and making resolutions, and got some interesting things to hear. Read on:

Stop gazing into the past, it won’t help the future. Pakistan needs to be organized into an inclusive, tolerant, secular and progressive state if it is to successfully meet the challenges of the 21st century

- Chartered Accountant Khayyam Mushir

Despite the surrounding doom and gloom, rising inflation, feminisation of poverty, food insecurity, hunger and unemployment, horrifying barbaric instances of violence against girls and women, the continued non-return of the enforced disappeared, the unearthing of bribery and corruption scandals, I still remain hopeful that we, who are brave, perceptive, caring, giving and resilient in the face of daunting odds, will not allow our rulers to sell us to the highest bidders

- Researcher and peace activist Tahira Abdullah

In Pakistan concept of democracy cannot be strengthened without structural support. In future we will have to build a strong industrial base to sustain democracy. People of Pakistan can take a sigh of relief, if borders with India are softened

To make room in future politics of Pakistan, left has to change it’s meta-narrative.

- Intellectual and writer Ashfaq Salim Mirza

We must realise that progress is a delusion unless each one of us believes in their agency and finds ways to exercise it. Let’s challenge all forms of disadvantage, social hierarchy and subordination. Let’s learn from the remains of Harappa and Gandhara that we are not an infant society. We gave birth to the human civilisation and travelled with it all the way embracing unparalleled diversity of social, cultural, political and economic orders

- PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge Arif Naveed

I want to serve Sheezan juice to every visitor. If they frown, tell them that our generation wants a plural and progressive Pakistan where no one is discriminated against. I want to tell young kids that if someone touches you in a way that makes you uncomfortable, be it a close relative, just scream and run away. And know that it wasn’t your fault

- Software developer and LUMS graduate Faizan Qureshi

I don’t believe in waiting for special days to carry out resolutions. You need to do special things all the time for yourself, and for other people. If you give, it comes back tenfold. Sometimes we tend to use the new year as an excuse to make resolutions. This sets us up for failure. If you want to set some goals it certainly doesn’t matter what time of year it is

- Neurologist Sasha Kamal

Hope our governments, particularly in Islamabad and Peshawar do something about terrorism in 2014. This is an absolute imperative for any possible economic betterment, security and the preservation of whatever is left of our way of life

- Senior journalist Aamir Mateen

I am proud that Pakistan managed to go through a  smooth change in four most crucial positions of prime minister, president, chief justice & chief of army staff without any violence. I am confident that our democratic institutions will keep maturing.

- Author Fouzia Saeed

I want to pursue dreams that have meaning, to have more one-on-one interactions with people from all strata of the society, to love and to forgive others and myself, to forget past mistakes and have the courage to make new ones. I think this should resonate equally well with our top politicians and statesmen today

- Development worker Ayesha Tetlay

The year 2014 will bring its own mix of successes and challenges, but we strongly believe that if our direction is clear we can achieve our goals. Our job is to continue to focus intently on what we can deliver.

- Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan Secretary General
 Abrar Hafeez

A year is new when we are able to expand our mental horizon. This paves the way for an open society. Unfortunately, we refuse to expand our mental horizons and close ourselves within the cocoon of delusion. May this year enable us to shed our delusions and give us strength to face the stark realities

- Intellectual from Gilgit-Baltistan Aziz Ali Dad 

I say on every new year that all criticism apart, I am an incorrigible optimist. Pakistan will come out of its present quagmire if we seriously build a modern, progressive state and a rational, tolerant society. As we enter 2014 I can see the rejuvenation of that discourse in our midst

- Poet and author Harris Khalique

To get two books out and to see and celebrate Pakistan even more

- Photojournalist Mobeen Ansari

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2014.