By – Sardar Nadir Akmal Khan Leghari
As we celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day, it is worth taking a moment to remember how this country came into being.
Pakistan was achieved through an extraordinary struggle under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. His determination, integrity and belief in constitutional and democratic principles gave the Muslims of the subcontinent a homeland of their own. We owe it to that struggle to ask ourselves, honestly, how far we have come and where we still need to do better.
Our journey since 1947 has not been perfect. We have had our successes and we have had our failures. There are many things we can be proud of, and there are also mistakes from which we must learn. That is part of the journey of every nation.
Throughout our history, our Armed Forces have stood in defence of the integrity, sovereignty and borders of our motherland, often in the most difficult circumstances. At the same time, our Armed Forces, law-enforcement agencies and ordinary Pakistanis have paid a very heavy price in the fight against terrorism. Thousands have laid down their lives so that the rest of us can live in peace and security. Their courage and sacrifice, and the sacrifices of their families, must never be forgotten.
In recent times, Pakistan has also conducted its foreign policy with considerable confidence and effectiveness, strengthening our position and relationships internationally. We should build on this progress.
But ultimately, the real strength of Pakistan will be determined by what we achieve at home. We need a country where the rule of law is respected and applies equally to everyone. We need to invest far more seriously in education, healthcare and, above all, our young people. Pakistan has tremendous human potential, but unless we educate, train and create opportunities for our
youth, that potential will remain just that—potential.
We also need to make it easier for people to do business, invest, produce and create jobs. Pakistan cannot prosper simply by selling what we grow or extract. We must learn to add value to what we produce, build industries around our own resources and compete confidently with the rest of the world.
Democracy must be respected and allowed to grow stronger. But political parties must also look within themselves. Merit should matter. Capable and hardworking people, especially young people, should have the opportunity to rise through political parties on the strength of their ability, character and service.
And if we genuinely want democracy to reach the people, we must have a meaningful local government system. Decisions affecting people’s everyday lives should not all be made in provincial capitals. Local governments must be properly integrated, empowered and given the
resources to deliver, with strong checks, balances, transparency and accountability.
At 79, Pakistan is still a relatively young nation. We have made mistakes, but we also have every reason to believe in our future. What matters is whether we have the courage to learn from the past and the wisdom to put our country ahead of our individual interests.
On this Independence Day, my prayer is simple: May Allah Almighty protect Pakistan, bring peace and prosperity to our people, guide those entrusted with responsibility, and help us leave behind a stronger and better Pakistan for our children and generations to come.
Pakistan Paindabad.
