It has been 77 years since Pakistan gained independence, and despite the ups and downs over these years, Pakistan has made its mark globally. Although democracy has not flourished as it should have in our country, Pakistan continues to shine brightly on the world map.
The progress of our country might be unsettling for many nations around the world, which is why they are constantly engaged in negative propaganda against us. Despite all these difficulties, challenges, and hardships, Pakistan has completed its journey of more than seven decades with full vigor, defying the predictions of those who said that Pakistan would never survive and would soon have to rejoin India. However, these predictions are now history, and today even our adversaries are compelled to recognize our country.
Pakistan is a divine gift for those who live here, a reality turned into a blessing by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his companions. The people connected to this movement, those who are still alive today, and their relatives have paid a price for freedom that is difficult to express in words.
According to historical data, more than two million men, women, youths, and children sacrificed their lives for this freedom. They gave up their homes, livestock, and life savings for the sake of an independent homeland. Girls ended their lives out of fear of losing their honor. In short, the people of that time experienced an apocalypse in their pursuit of freedom, driven solely by the passion for an independent country.
In this age of social media, when you see people from these two nations meeting after long separations or visiting their ancestral homes after decades, the emotions are overwhelming, bringing tears to every eye. When long-separated siblings meet after many years, their joy is beyond words. In this regard, print and electronic media have brought these stories to light through books, novels, stories, dramas, and films, and even today, when readers and viewers come across these narratives, their eyes well up with tears.
It is the responsibility of the state and the government to launch special campaigns during August to commemorate these stories of independence. These stories should be publicized through neon signs, panaflex, and banners. The heroes who sacrificed their lives for independence should be introduced to the public. Special programs should be organized on radio and television about independence, and a social media campaign should be launched to convey these stories to the youth on every platform.
The government should organize programs in schools, colleges, universities, and especially madrasas, focusing on independence. The stories of independence heroes and their struggles should be told. Free shows of independence-related films should be held in cinemas. The public should be informed about those who played an individual or collective role in the development and progress of the country. The role of minorities in the country’s development should also be detailed so that the new generation is not left with any doubts about them. Special pamphlets and brochures highlighting the importance of independence should be distributed to the new generation.
If we observe the celebrations of Independence Day over the past few years, we see that for many young people, this day is only about noise and chaos. As soon as August begins, small and large horns and other noisy items start appearing in markets, and young people think that creating this cacophony is the essence of freedom. You should certainly celebrate Independence Day, but be mindful that your actions should not cause discomfort to others. Your noise should not trouble any sick or elderly person. It seems that for many young people, Independence Day means the freedom to create chaos. This is not to say that young people should not celebrate freedom, but they should also remember the sacrifices their ancestors made during the creation of Pakistan.
Today, our country is indeed on the path of development, and we believe that our nation will endure until the end of time. Although we have been going through a difficult phase in recent years, these challenges are undoubtedly less severe than those faced at the time of Pakistan’s creation. If we managed to make our mark as a nation back then, now we have the infrastructure, human resources, and professionals with exceptional skills in every field, so there is no reason we cannot overcome the current challenges.
On this Independence Day, let us all pledge to unite and steer our country out of this difficult situation, showing the world that we are a resilient nation.