Challenges of Statehood

It is heart-rending that malicious use of social media and rented print and electronic media, barring a few exceptions, in the hands of the enemy paints a negative image of Pakistan. The recent Senate elections once again laid bare the role of the corrupt elements and the level of decay that has seeped into every walk of life in Pakistan. Immediate reforms are necessary in all fields and should be duly prioritized by the government. The people of Pakistan have been driven crazy by the self-serving antics of the politicians and the media. They have become mental patients, disillusioned and misled by the unending dose of negative propaganda. Despite progress in many fields, most Pakistanis have developed the habit of remaining thankless and always see the glass as half empty. They suffer from pessimism at all times and visualize their country as nothing but a sinking ship. They are egged on in their negative beliefs by the politicians who work on nothing but a self-serving agenda.

Ruling a country like Pakistan, which is confronted by a lot of internal and external challenges, is not a bed of roses, especially if steps are taken against corruption. In such a taxing environment, the most important role of the national leadership should be to give hope and direction to the people, more by actions than just mere words and follow unconventional ways and means to steer the boat out of troubled waters.

The Armed forces of Pakistan are well-poised to deter any foreign aggression but the political leadership needs to focus on internal cohesion. Repeating the same experiment with different combinations of the same faces won’t produce any results. The macro indicators are showing relative progress, yet the masses need immediate delivery and relief on aspects like uncontrolled price hikes, unemployment and corruption. It is obvious that the NAB and the existing judicial system are unlikely to help much in the recovery of the plundered wealth. In these circumstances, other models such as the ones operating in China, Malaysia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia can be followed to recover the looted public money and to help rid Pakistan of its many ills.

Someone rightly said that while one saw a lot of Muslims in Pakistan but witnessed Islam only outside Pakistan. It is amazing how ignorant the Pakistani people are or their lack of belief in their own gifts. Most Pakistanis neither know the beauty nor the blessings attached with Pakistan or the value of freedom. There is a dichotomy in their understanding of their rights and privileges. Pakistan remains busy in fighting imposed or acquired wars and has accelerated this function over the last 40 years. On the other hand, India follows a strategy of reaching out to the world by sending its skilled labour and youth abroad for higher education and specialized jobs. Today they occupy some of the most important positions in the USA, Europe and the Middle Eastern countries and in all walks of life. They successfully look after the interests of their motherland as well as the interests of the lands where they live.

Pakistan’s strategic mistakes cannot be compensated for or corrected through tactical steps. We need to sincerely follow the examples set by countries with almost the same life spans in the aftermath of the Second World War. The latter have succeeded in achieving the zenith of overall progress based on their national characteristics that are defined by honesty, hard work, national pride, uniform national education, comprehensive economic and security systems and, above all, timely justice for all. There is no shortcut to national progress and the path is arduous, however, our national resolve can make it a proud pursuit.

A reminder for the incumbent or any future Pakistan government: “You told me once that we shall be judged by our intentions, not by our accomplishments. But we must intend to accomplish — not sit intending on a chair.”