My vision of a new Pakistan is one the Quaid-e-Azam had visualised for us, a true Islamic Welfare State that is coherent with the teachings of Islam. My vision of my motherland is to follow the motto of Pakistan: Unity, Faith and Discipline. Only then can my beloved country promote the peaceful religion of Islam and the idea of universal brotherhood across the whole world. The constitution shall be ensured, enabling citizens to live their lives and raise their children with dignity, free from all societal ills.
My vision of the future is one in which democracy, not dictatorship, will endure. We need a country in which economic growth and social justice reinforce each other; where the rule of law, justice, equality and property rights are enjoyed by all irrespective of their family background, religious beliefs, official position or economic status. Such a country will also maintain gender equality and the rights of women, allowing them to choose and live their lives freely. Citizens would have access to better quality education and affordable healthcare facilities. There would be less political instability and more economic productivity. Pollution would be greatly reduced and the law enforcement would have better control over criminals. With a better democratic government and an educated population there would be a more equivalent distribution of wealth and income; hence the gap between the rich and the poor would be considerably less.
The first step towards making this vision a reality is to empower the youth, since they are the future torch bearers of our nation. They are the ones who can ultimately combat and ameliorate extensive problems such as poverty and food insecurity since they better understand the importance of stimulating sustainable development.
Saqib Ishaq
Azad Kashmir
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3, 2020.
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