We must thank our neighbour for the four momentous days of May 2025. They gave us a reason to be immensely proud and an opportunity to redefine ourselves. The four days taught us that nations are not built with cynicism, hatred, irrationality or meaningless self-serving narratives. They are built on vision, professionalism, technology, discipline and sustained hard work. They are built on systems and institutions and not dependent on individuals or cliches.
We must thank our armed forces, who made us stand tall and proud. They taught us that the tide of history can be turned by professionalism, developing systems, learning new skills, adopting the finest technologies, respecting competence over relatives, training hard, and demonstrating courage. These are the qualities that every ministry, department and organisation of Pakistan, could just as well emulate.
Here is a great new opportunity for Pakistan, to rise from the ashes of gloom and apathy. Here is a historic opportunity to reform and modernise all its institutions and organisations. Here is a lesson to learn from our own Air Force — to adopt the latest digitally integrated systems, develop lean structures, shed the culture of photocopies and affidavits, and focus on training, competence, reform and modern processes.
It is time to exercise humility, simplicity and austerity. It is also time to focus on our downtrodden communities — the sanitation workers, the security guards, the coal miners, the railway coolies and the factory workers. It’s time to push for equity in our ranks. It is time to dismantle the disproportionate perks, salaries, luxury cars and pensions of our judges, politicians and bureaucrats, and give at least the minimum wage and the old-age pension (EOBI) to our unsung ordinary citizens.
Naeem Sadiq
Karachi
