KARACHI:
Today marks the 75th Independence Day of Pakistan or its 74th birth anniversary. The memories from 1947 are still afresh in the minds of most immigrants. My grandparents still painfully recall their traumatic experiences. Despite witnessing tremendous horrors, both of my grandparents made their journey across the border safely. Their stories made me realise that we must recall and pay tribute to the sacrifices of our forefathers.
The 14th of August holds tremendous significance for Pakistanis all over the world. It reinvigorates our spirit of zeal and zest as the entire nation stands in solidarity. We forget the differences that divide us. Annually, Independence Day is commemorated with a range of celebratory events. The country proudly acknowledges the efforts made in combatting external and internal challenges. On this monumental day, we must revisit the ideals laid down by our founding fathers and face all our adversaries with ‘unity, faith, and discipline’. Jinnah’s vision of a ‘democratic’ Pakistan was based on the ideals of socio-economic justice and the right to equal citizenship. To realise these, there is a need for economic egalitarianism in order to ameliorate poverty. Foreign policy must primarily promote goodwill and peace. We must also strive to promote education and civil services to eradicate corruption and nepotism, as well as promote patriotism so that people take ownership of this land.
To transform Pakistan as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam, the need of the hour is to implement his ideals of a democratic welfare state. Both leaders and citizens must join hands to alleviate the nation from its ruin. Institutions must become transparent and ensure strict adherence to SOPs. The energy crisis must be resolved through sustainable alternatives; food and water insecurity must be tackled through agricultural development; and the debt crises relieved by increasing exports. A successful foreign policy, an increased GDP and a democratic system that ensures freedom of speech, citizen participation and human development are pre-requisites to Quaid’s Pakistan.
Soha Nisar
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, August 14th, 2021.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
