Our resilient and courageous citizens strive continuously for a better tomorrow
GERMANY: Eidul Fitr is a three-day celebration at the end of the holy month of Ramazan. People on this auspicious occasion distribute sweets, meet friends and relatives, and prepare delicious food.
The festivity runs contrary to the Islamophobic stereotypes bestowed onto Muslims by the West as being violent and barbaric in nature. In turn, Middle Eastern nations are branded as being “backward” by the so-called elite countries. However, all this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Every other country has had to face their fair share of socio-economic problems and societal evils at some point in their history. But painting everyone with the same brush is not a plausible way to characterise them.
Many accuse Muslims of being insensitive. Let us remind them that our country is one of the most charitable countries in the world. It is one of the few countries where even costly cancer treatment is done free of cost at several hospitals — thanks to the help from citizens and NGOs. Some whip up the notion that we confine women within our homes. Let it be known that our women have trekked to the peak of K2, the second tallest mountain in the world, and commandeered fighter jets. While others would say that we lag in the field of science in technology, they are not aware that we produce scientists with remarkable talent and skill, the most recent one being a young physicist who broke one of the Newton’s records at the young age of 16. Foreigners might claim that Pakistan is not safe for tourism. However, our homeland has made it to the Forbes list of ‘The 10 Coolest Places to Go in 2019’ and ‘10 Best Under-the-Radar Trips for 2020’.
I believe that Pakistan’s strongest days are yet to come. Our resilient and courageous citizens strive continuously for a better tomorrow. Together we can pledge that before the next Eid, we will have more reasons to be proud of our motherland.
Arsalan Ahmad
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2020.
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