In just 63 years of its existence; Pakistan has made amazing progress and is one of the leading developed countries of the world. It has a considerable GNP & GDP. The exports are far greater than the imports. The literacy rate is 60%, while educational institutes are of high ranking. The rate of corruption is also quite low and ......” and this is just my dream, my wish… so far from reality that it it’s not even a mirage. Our country presents a picture quite on the contrary.

What I see and what I hear is just horrifying. Suicide bombings, target killings, fatal accidents, and now the latest devastating floods. Where is the Pakistan that I search for? On every Independence Day I hope against hope that by next year things would be better, would improve, but that hope is dashed to pieces.

On 14th August 1947, Pakistan came into being for 100 million Musalmaans. These people faced the greatest of hardships and made huge sacrifices but they believed it was worth it. They left everything behind, to start a new life in a homeland which was created in the name of Islam. They had many hopes and aspirations in their hearts because a vision had turned into reality.

There was no care for what they had lost, they followed ours and their one true leader Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah with blind conviction, who did the greatest favor by giving them freedom. Yet today we find ourselves in a quandary beyond our imagination. An estimated 20 million people have been displaced within the country as we have been hit by the worst floods in 80 years. It is an overwhelming and heart breaking situation.

Most people are trying their level best to be of assistance to all those who have been affected, however at a time like this every single person must do something, take some action, only then will it be possible to come out of this extremely difficult situation. We should channel all our energies and efforts in providing support whether monetary or physical. That is the need of the hour. Our only aim should be to help others recover from this tragedy.

Yet we also need to reflect why this happened? We need not focus on the obvious reasons such as bad governance, mismanagement, incompetence etc., rather we need to go beyond that and delve into ourselves. Actually the problem lies within every person. Unfortunately, most of us in normal circumstances have become self-centered and materialistic in our approach towards life, while values seem to be fast fading into the background. Exploitation of human rights is also widespread. We simply do not want to shoulder our responsibilities as an individual, and this is hindering in our functioning as a whole, as a nation.

Though history provides us with numerous examples that prove that continued sacrifice is required at a personal level, if a nation wishes to achieve something. While all we are heard saying is; ‘if only’...we do this, and ‘if only’…we do that, then all our problems will be solved. The million dollar question is that when will we actually do this and do that? When will we take the first step on a journey that is going to be arduous, yet if we keep on going as we are now, how are we ever going to grow and develop as a country should? What will make us realize that the direction we are headed in is absolutely wrong? Allah gave us a warning in the form of the earthquake in 2005, but did we pay heed to that warning? I think not.

I do not deny that to follow the correct path is difficult, but after all the toil and struggle when we reach our ultimate destination; we will have success and that is Allah’s promise. Look at Quaid-i-Azam. His faith in Allah was unwavering; he was staunch in his beliefs and was highly principled. That is how he got Pakistan for us. Had he been weak-willed, insincere and unprincipled, then there would have been no Pakistan at all. If one man could do it and achieve a miracle, can you even imagine for a moment what we could have achieved as a nation collectively! Perhaps I have asked a rather difficult question, however the possibilities would have been limitless.

On his Eid message in 1946 he said “I want every Musalmaan man, woman and child to resolve on this auspicious day to work as disciplined soldiers in every department of life; educational, social, economical and political, and thus build up for a nation of hundred million people, a place worthy of our glorious past and historic traditions.” While addressing the civil officers of Balochistan in 1948 he said “I can assure you there is nothing greater in this world than your own conscience and when you appear before God you can say that you performed your duty with the highest sense of integrity, honesty and with loyalty and faithfulness.”

Hence what should be our course of action? Well this year, Independence Day was in the month of Ramazan. This was especially symbolic for us because Pakistan was born in that blessed month, as well as fortunate for us as it gives us a great opportunity to repent for our sins and ask for Allah’s forgiveness. For it is when each one of us will realize our faults, only then will we be able to change ourselves and that will bring us on the right track.

And the easiest way to do that is to completely follow the teachings of Islam with a sincere heart. Complete faith in Allah and good deeds is what will make us victorious. So let us honestly make a promise to Allah that we will change ourselves. It would be a gradual process but we have to make an effort at all costs to do that. It is my earnest prayer that this message penetrates into the hearts of the people of my nation. Ameen.