As you’re all aware there is an ongoing conference being held in Tokyo. The title of the gathering is “Friends of Pakistan”. Ask any Pakistani and they will not be happy of the title because it translates into yet more begging on an international scale.
Where is the Pakistan that once inspired other nations to rise and become economic power houses? Singapore, which was once nothing but an island with majority of its revenues coming from Water Resources, is today one of the most stable countries in the world and a symbol of peace. Hardly do you hear of any sad incidents or uprising or civil disobedience in Singapore today.
Once a team of delegates was sent to Singapore in the 80s by the then General in-charge of Pakistan, Zia-ul-Haq. The purpose of the visit was to inquire and tour Singapore, look at its developmental work, and come back with a workplan to uplift Pakistan.
When the delegation met the Singapore Premiere, and asked how he had managed to transform Singapore. He just looked around at the dignitaries gathered, and smiled then asked “There was one nation that inspired me to transform Singapore. The nation was fast progressing and stood out above others in Asia. Do you gentlemen know which nation that is?” The Pakistani delegation replied in negative. With a chuckle he responded, “Gentlemen! that nation is Pakistan. I took my inspiration from a progressive Pakistan”.
It was that in the 80s, and here we are today. We have had a backwards trend of politics, economics, and development. Pakistan was indeed once one of the most progressive nations in the region.
Are we going to continue heading downwards? Leaving aside the issues we face which came to surface recently, where else have we gone wrong? What can Pakistan do, to once again stun the world with rapid progress and becoming a beacon of hope for other improvished nations?
What can we, as Pakistanis, do to rebuild our nation and build its foundations so strong that no ill-devised policies would shake its foundations?
Pakistan and Pakistanis surely do not want to beg before the world. Surely, we do not want to be dictated what our policies should be, and how to best progress. But, as long as we continue to have politician-turned-leaders whose entire mentality is that of Wealth-Gathering and personal interests, i’m afraid we’ll be stuck in this downwards spiral. It is our leaders that lead the nation, but when we elect those who cannot even lead a political party or a small gathering, how can we expect those individuals to run a nation, for the people who are at the core of it. The poor public.
Who do you see as a likely leader that will refine Pakistan’s image and make it an examplry Muslim nation as well as an example for the developed world?
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