Every year on August 14th, Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day with great enthusiasm and fervor. Streets are adorned with green and white flags, fireworks light up the night sky, and the air resonates with patriotic songs. While these celebrations are an essential part of marking this historical day, it’s crucial to remember that the true essence of independence goes far beyond firecrackers and festivities. It’s a day to reflect on the vision of our founding fathers, particularly Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and to assess whether we are living up to their ideals.
The Vision of Muhammad Ali Jinnah
In 1940 in Lahore Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the man who founded Pakistan, gave a seminal speech setting out the need for a separate state for Muslims on the subcontinent. Before the division of India in 1947, Hindus and Muslims had lived together across the country. But Jinnah described them as two separate nations.
There existed vast differences in language, culture, and religious interpretations between Indian Muslims, even if they were united by a common faith. Jinnah was not the first to articulate the Two Nation Theory, but with the creation of Pakistan, he transformed it into a political reality. The theory is now taught to all schoolchildren in Pakistan.
To Jinnah, the major premise in the new geo-political context was that with partition and independence, the two nations encapsulated in the Two-Nation Theory had attained statehood, transforming themselves into the Indian and Pakistani nations. Thus, their prime identification became Indians and Pakistanis and not Hindus and Muslims.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, envisioned a nation built on principles of justice, equality, and integrity. His tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to the cause of Pakistan were driven by a dream of a progressive and prosperous state where every citizen would have the opportunity to thrive. Especially minorities will have full rights and can perform any activity freely. He also mentioned this in his famous 14-point agenda for an independent nation where justice prevails. And which are Jinnah’s vision was rooted in the values of hard work, honesty, and unity.
Unity, faith, and discipline were the keywords of Jinnah for a nation to thrive in every aspect of life.
Jinnah once famously said, “With faith, discipline, and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile you cannot achieve.“ These words should serve as a guiding light for every Pakistani. However, looking at our current state, it is evident that we have strayed far from Jinnah’s path. Corruption, nepotism, and dishonesty have become pervasive, hindering our progress and tarnishing our nation’s image. Today we can see the results of being so far from all the teachings of the founder of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Jinnah. That is why we are lacking in all the areas to be a progressive nation whereas other countries are thriving and are far ahead of Pakistan. As Pakistanis, we need to remind ourselves of the Basic teachings of our Quaid to be successful citizens of a successful Nation. We must work on different aspects to save our country from the current crisis.
The Dream of the famous poet of East Allama Iqbal
Allama Iqbal, the philosophical thinker and poet, played a pivotal role in conceptualizing the idea of Pakistan. His Two-Nation Theory laid the foundation for the demand for a separate homeland for Muslims in the Indian subcontinent. Iqbal’s dream was not merely about geographical separation but about creating a society where Islamic principles could be practiced freely, promoting justice, equality, and moral values.
Allama Muhammad Iqbal is the spiritual and intellectual founder of Pakistan. No poet or philosopher in the history of the world has inspired and energized millions of people as Iqbal did. He was the last and greatest thinker of the historic Aligarh Movement which brought about a paradigm shift in the consciousness of the Muslims of India and transformed their destiny. But Iqbal’s place in history is not limited to his role as a modernist, reformist Muslim thinker in India. He is the most outstanding poet-philosopher of the world of Islam, and of the world in general, since the death of Jalaluddin Rumi in 1273. Poet, philosopher, educationist, lawyer, political activist, and social reformer, Iqbal is unmatched in his versatility and the breadth of his knowledge and vision. His message is more relevant and important to contemporary Muslims than the message of any other Muslim thinker of the past or present. This is due not only to the fact that Iqbal faced the challenges of both traditionalism and modernity fearlessly but also – and more importantly – because he had a profound understanding of the integrated vision of the Qur’an which he made the basis of his philosophy. What is unique about Iqbal’s philosophy is that it offers concrete guidance about how a Muslim can attain “the good life” which is the goal set before humanity whom God has created “in the best of molds”.According to Iqbal “The Qur’an is a book which emphasizes ‘deed’ rather than ‘idea’.” Likewise, Iqbal’s philosophy, rich as it is in ideas and concepts, is fundamentally action-oriented. It is often proclaimed by Pakistanis that Pakistan was Iqbal’s “dream” but few know that this “dream” was the outcome of a lifetime of deep thinking and feeling, of study, of creativity, and of prayer. Iqbal died in 1938, nine years before the creation of Pakistan, but his role in the Pakistan Movement was so pivotal that it is not an exaggeration to say that if there had been no Iqbal, there might well have been no Pakistan. The influence that Iqbal wielded was phenomenal. His reputation – not only as an outstanding poet and philosopher – but also as a person of unswerving conviction and incorruptible honesty, had contributed greatly to the rallying of Muslims under the banner upheld by the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. All these facts notwithstanding it must be kept in mind that Iqbal was a visionary philosopher and not a politician.
Iqbal envisioned a Pakistan where the teachings of Islam, particularly those of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), would guide the nation’s moral and ethical compass.
However, we must ask ourselves if we are genuinely following this path. Are we living according to the principles of honesty, integrity, and compassion that our religion and our leaders emphasized? The answer, unfortunately, is often a resounding “No”. We all as citizens of Pakistan need to take responsibility for the improvements and innovation in different units and sectors of the country on a large scale so our country can strive and stand with countries on all levels whether it’s Education, health, IT, etc.
The Reality of Today
Today, Pakistan faces numerous challenges that threaten the very fabric of our society. Corruption has seeped into every level of governance, education, and business. It has become so normalized that many accept it as an inevitable part of life. This corruption not only hinders economic growth but also erodes public trust and undermines the rule of law.
Moreover, our education system is lagging. Quality education remains inaccessible to many, and literacy rates are far from satisfactory. Without a well-educated populace, we cannot hope to compete on a global scale or drive the innovation needed for progress.
The Path Forward
To truly honor the spirit of Independence Day, we must commit to a comprehensive national revival. Here are some steps we can take:
Fight Against Corruption
Eradicating corruption should be a top priority. This requires strict enforcement of laws, transparent governance, and a cultural shift towards zero tolerance for corrupt practices. It starts at an individual level. So everybody needs to improve on a personal level and change and raise their level of what one will accept and what won’t be accepted. By individually doing the needful, our country will progress on all levels fast. For that matter, all we need to do is stay committed to this fact and say “No” to corruption, and hence hurdles will be automatic and subtly.
Invest in Education
Education is the backbone of any progressive society. We must invest in improving our education system, ensuring that quality education is accessible to everyone, the poor, and the middle class, and promoting a culture of lifelong learning. The government should keep the literacy rate in mind and should provide free education at least till Matriculation level not primary as the Poverty rate in the country is too high as well. So people prefer to meet up to their daily needs for food instead of prioritizing education by any means. The circumstances are so dire that people are fighting the game of survival of the fittest. Building more universities and technical institutions is crucial for this endeavor. The government should announce annually a budget in which education is made a priority by applying that slowly and gradually more free educational organizations will be made and also free buildings of schools where teachers can work efficiently voluntarily and ready to provide education for free with dedication. It has to be an ongoing process irrespective of the country’s economy and financial crisis.
Invest in the health sector
Health is the most vital aspect of every human life. It is said that” Health is wealth” and undoubtedly it is of great significance for an individual life as well as for the well-being of the country. Countries that have good health care services per person according to population are progressing fast as they don’t have to focus on a very basic service as health care. They are working on other issues unlike Pakistan to be progressive and compete with other countries to be of significant value in this world. In Pakistan where health care facilities and first aid are non-existent or they are very expensive even life-saving drugs either not available or being sold in black at higher prices, which makes them out of reach of an average person. The government needs to make hospitals, and trauma centers in different areas of Pakistan according to the population of that particular city so anyone and everyone can reach out and get help immediately instead of dying because no first aid is available or it is out of reach of an ordinary man. Also, The Government should take precautionary measures to help people get life-saving drugs available for free and immediately, make Government hospitals where treatment is free daily, It will help people to stay healthy and they can focus and participate in other activities which will help the country to grow. It is a very basic service that should be provided by the government on a large scale and work on it and have a handsome amount of budget every year for this facility. It will help the general health of people to improve and the country would be able to flourish easily and effectively, hence not focusing on the basics yet very important as health services.” Healthy people, healthy home, healthy country”.
Inflation rate
Inflation is all over the world but as Pakistan is an underdeveloped country, it has the worst effects of this inflation. It covers all areas of an ordinary man’s life in the country. For example, the daily services, like expensive drinking water, and Electricity rates fluctuate every other day, and most of the areas of Pakistan are hot and humid, which makes it far too costly for daily use, and electricity is one of the basic life necessities these days, as we are not living in stone age era, provided load-shedding is regularly, not justified for the consumer, also an upsurge in prices of daily edible goods, which has a lot of negative impact over an ordinary man’s life. So for the progression of the country, the government needs to regulate the prices not six monthly in the budget but the way they are increasing the prices monthly, of daily goods and making the lives of people miserable, they need to regulate that every month. Giving relief to the consumer has to be the government’s priority. By taking effective promising steps and strategic planning people would be mentally free from the escalating prices of daily goods and can fully and freely participate in the activities that will promote the country’s growth in almost all areas of life so our country Pakistan can compete with the outer world, by improving the economy like other developed countries.
Promote Integrity and Accountability
Public servants and leaders must be held accountable for their actions. Integrity and transparency should be the hallmarks of all institutions.
Embrace the Teachings of Islam
The ethical and moral teachings of Islam, as exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), should guide our personal and national conduct. Honesty, compassion, and justice must be at the core of our actions.
Follow Jinnah’s Vision
Let us draw inspiration from Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of a united, progressive, and prosperous Pakistan. His principles of faith, discipline, and devotion to duty should be our guiding lights.
Eradicate Terrorism
With the help of our army and law enforcement agencies, we must continue our efforts to eradicate terrorism. Safety should be ensured for every citizen of Pakistan as well as foreign visitors. So the image of Pakistan improves and the label of a terrorist country should be removed as Pakistan is on the second number for being an unsafe country to visit. Which is a very shameful thing for the country. Daily life is hugely affected by an insecure environment where mobile snatching, and money, card, car, and jewelry stealing and snatching, is common, one isn’t safe in their cars, on the signals of the roads while traveling, while drawing cash from ATMs, snatchers, and looters are everywhere in the country due unemployment and economical instability. The government should recruit trained persons by increasing the number of security agencies and they should be deputed not the VIPs only but to the Public and citizens of Pakistan on the traffic signals, and on the roads so one can feel secure and if in case something unlawful happens, the police can also be approached easily. By taking this step a secure and safe environment will be promoted, citizens will feel peaceful justice will prevail and many job opportunities will also be generated to take care of unemployment and decrease in poverty level hence fewer looters. A secure and stable environment is essential for national growth and development and Pakistan’s image will be improved on the map of the world.
Develop Industry and Trade
We must focus on producing goods and services that can be traded with other countries. Encouraging export-oriented industries, supporting small and medium enterprises, and developing high-value-added products can help boost exports. Furthermore, the government should focus on negotiating bilateral and multilateral trade agreements to expand market access for Pakistani goods and services. Trade needs to be more productive, more service-based, and more inclusive so that everyone can benefit. To achieve these objectives, trade also needs to be more internationally cooperative and more multilateral. This is the final way we can build better economic bridges. Pakistan follows a mixed economy system, where the public and private sectors coexist. Domestic and industrial sectors should be improved by workforce development, prioritizing education and training skills. All should work towards the same goal and that is how to increase the industry of all kinds and trade. A few factors are holding back Pakistan from achieving strong, sustained, and inclusive growth. Reforms and investments to diversify exports, strengthen the business environment, enhance access to and the quality of education and health services, and improve urban planning processes. This will not only boost our economy but also create job opportunities and foster innovation.
Grow in Information Technology
Investing in information technology is essential for keeping up with the modern world. We can improve in various ways by using AI by introducing it equally to the daily curriculum of children in the Government and private sector as well. A good step would be to make it a compulsory subject for the kids so the youth will be well introduced to it and can get jobs easily in the country and worldwide. Also by doing that, we can compete easily in the world market where it is already being used and countries are taking advantage of it for their growth. AI can be used in the construction sector by the architects, it will be safe, fewer people will be used to work for that particular area, and foolproof and fast-paced work will be done, which will be pretty productive for the country. Also, another example would be in the Agricultural sector where nowadays Vertical growth of vegetables is used, with the help of AI we can increase the production rate with multiple ideas in hand as we have all four seasons and a lot of lands can be used for agriculture fortunately.AI and Automation go hand in hand as are often involve using technology to perform tasks traditionally done by humans, can be used for repetitive tasks, dangerous tasks, or tasks that require considerable strength, flexibility, and endurance. Work automation frequently accelerates processing times. Machines and robots can lift more, pull more, and build more than people. Processing automation engineering skills can provide significant advantages to job seekers in this progressive field. Robots can be used to work on a large industrial scale known as industrial automation. There are many automated jobs like self-driven vehicles, proofreading, sales, manufacturing, quality control, retail, phone operators, telemarketers, receptionists, marketing advertisements, media related jobs, So tasks are endless, but it is very important to mention that it takes billions, and trillions of rupees to implement such AI tools and its not like replacing the humans, they need here is to study those subjects on a practical and professional basis, for example, automation engineers who develop, test and implement software tools or programs to automate technical operations So it will always be “The man behind the gun, not the gun behind the man”. Humans will always be superior to robots but still Pakistan as a country needs progress in this field to compete with the world of today. As mentioned above by making AI a compulsory subject and accessible to all so soon we have a generation that can compete easily with the world, knowledge of this field, and make the country proud by working in this field, making significant progress in the related field. The benefits of automated operations are higher productivity, scalability, employee or customer satisfaction, etc. We should keep in mind the advantages and disadvantages and act and learn accordingly and be prepared for the future full of upgrading and competition. Developing IT infrastructure and education will enable us to compete globally and drive economic growth vastly.
Utilize Natural Resources Wisely
Pakistan is rich in minerals and natural resources. We must use these resources wisely and sustainably to fuel our economic growth. we can do it by saving our GAS reserves and starting to produce more Electricity from Solar power, Hydropower, biomass, and Geothermal and start shifting vastly to it. To produce electricity, a tribune generator set converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. As in the past, the LPG rikshaws were used which brought a huge amount of damage to the gas reserves. Government has to make Electrical power plants, Geothermal and solar plants on huge scales according to needs of the country daily. It can be obtained from the Kinetic energy of flowing water and wind. For the growth and progression of the country and to compete with today’s world, the major requirement is electricity at a lower cost, and with huge amounts of production of that electricity for a conducive amount of growth. As the consumer is suffering big time and the country is lacking behind in every field. The government has to put serious consideration and effort into this matter so we can progress and get rid of debts from other countries, which are increasing with every passing day.
Advance Agricultural Technology
Using new technology in fertilization and farming practices can significantly enhance agricultural productivity, ensuring food security and boosting the economy.
Promote Tourism
Tourism is a vital part of any country’s growth. Our northern areas, like Gilgit-Baltistan and Kaghan, Nararn, Hunza, Shangrila, and Sawat are like heaven on earth. By developing tourism infrastructure, we can attract visitors from around the world, showcasing our natural beauty and cultural heritage. For that matter, we need to build hotels of international level with international cosine so foreigners can easily eat and enjoy the environment. Good spoken verbal English guides are a must to attract international travelers and will be easier for them to prioritize which places they want to visit first, language is a very basic tool to communicate, so it will help attract many visitors and foreigners as English is an international language and understood by the majority of visitors from worldwide. we should also work on the security of foreign visitors from different parts of the world, as they should feel secure while visiting beautiful northern areas of Pakistan and have a great image of the country. The Government should take strict measures to promote tourism and provide the locals with security company facilities and always have the budget for land sliding and making new international-level hotels and providing any facility and service being asked as we have to compete with other countries and to come up to international level, the government should help the locals and the resort and hotel owners in introducing innovative projects so we can come up to the level of other developed countries and use these natural gifts for a progressive Pakistan ahead. This will also help in job opportunities for the locals and would be a big relief for them as well as a boost in the economy which is today’s dire need of the country.
Foster Growth in Science and Technology
Scientific and technological advancement is crucial for national development. By investing in research and development, we can drive innovation and progress in various fields.
Ease Taxation to Encourage Investment
Easing taxes can stimulate industrial growth and attract new investments. The governments should lift taxes on goods to attract investors to Pakistan. By doing that, it will increase our reserves. By providing relief in taxes our country can manufacture goods and different businesses can bloom. So there will be a favorable business environment which is essential for economic prosperity. We badly need this step to be present on the world map as a successful nation.
Conclusion
Independence Day is not just a time for celebration; it is a time for introspection and recommitment to the ideals that led to the creation of Pakistan. As we light fireworks and wave our flags, let us also resolve to follow the footsteps of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the teachings of Allama Iqbal. By addressing the challenges of corruption, investing in education, utilizing our natural resources wisely, and promoting innovation and integrity, we can steer our beloved country towards the bright future envisioned by its founders. Only then will we truly honor the sacrifices made for our independence and ensure that Pakistan remains a beacon of hope and progress for generations to come. Now is the time to act; otherwise, we risk becoming a mere footnote in history.
