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Nadia Rafiq Butt.
Pakistan like many other countries is striving to get a positive image for one reason or the other. One can spell out a number of reasons. On top is sectarianism and extremism which has become plague for our society. Then is the law and order situation, frequency of murders and thefts and all such crimes. However, this doesn’t suggest that things are not under control. There are good people and good things to report. It must be admitted that human societies have their limitations. Freedom, justice and equality are only ideals. Total justice and peace is not humanly possible. Instead of looking at it in a negative way, one should look at those negatives with a glass half-full approach, and one should realize that spreading positivity instead of deprivation and scarcity would serve the cause better as we all hold responsibility being nationals to our homeland. Man will only remain on the right track if a mental discipline is shaped by education and if there is a fear of law, justice and punishment, in short dispense of justice without fear or favor. If a society enjoys justice and fair play it will surely portray soft image.
If our social, economic and administrative systems work reasonably and efficiently no harm can come to Pakistan. If all get justice and feel secure no one will think of any criminal activities. Every citizen must have confidence in its justice system. There can be no peace without justice and no civilized society without education. In the absence of justice and literacy no one can vision of credibility of sound reputation of the country.
Apparently Pakistan’s softer image is being portrayed by book releases, rock concerts and exhibitions nationally either internationally. Somehow we misunderstood the reality that the solution lies to the problems of country. We can somehow fix this problem by altering our international image of being naïve along with gratified and full of pride of our own culture and traditions. We have to come out of copying and competing others thereafter. If we can value our own culture and traditions showcasing higher values and norms with self-dignity only then we can gently put others on the track of respecting our culture and traditions in reciprocation.
Pakistan is making all sorts of efforts to tackle deadly hazard of terrorism not only for its own good but for the whole world. Terrorism could only be defeated through dialogue, as it was the only way to eliminate terrorism where the outcome of using power would produce no positive results but would aggravate the situation. Unfortunately the western world is not giving Pakistan its due credit. It keeps on highlighting only those things through which the image of the country can be damaged and their national interests get served. More fuel is been added by next-door enemy India whose psychological warfare has always put serious harm to our country both nationally and internationally. But would it serve sensible if we keep waiting for due credit. Putting aside unhygienic debate of our war or others war enforced on our country and steered by our forces, political leaders should get our unparalleled sacrifices and unshaken resolve acknowledged by international world regardless of opposition’s propaganda which has been going since years and will keep going.
Pakistan’s soft image can be portrayed through three resources i.e. culture economy and media. Pakistan is not being able to attract the western world through its historical and cultural heritage. Pakistan has great heritage from North to South. Tourism can bring a big change and can play a pivotal role. Cultural events, exchange programs, broadcasting or teaching country’s language and promoting country’s culture and society can be used as soft tools. Basant and Valentine’s Day celebrations will not help. We are in dire need of culture of tolerance in Pakistan but anything against the true spirit of Islam needs to be discouraged. Pakistan must think to start exchange programs between students. Teachers must be welcome from abroad to teach their language to young students in Pakistan and vice versa. Science and technology must be given high preferences. Helping other countries in disasters and emergency situations can prove our soft side instead of highlighting and pretending miseries in the greed of getting aid from international world. Government should stay alive to the issues of backwardness, unemployment and economic deprivation in the country and keep striving to address these through judicious distribution of resources.
People buy brands not products, this is an age old fact acknowledged by the researchers of the world. We need to develop our brand reputed Pakistan. Almost every other country is associated with its national characteristics. Italy is associated with style, Japan with technology, India with history and culture, so our efforts with branding must be guided to find our economic role. Here comes the question how we can package our self. The media particularly electronic media can play a major role. We need to have more of English news channels to have more international audience. Media has hyped bad news and have made it look like a demon.This does not mean that nothing good has happened or is happening. The only prevailing fact that bad news is more newsworthy than good news. Media has played a huge part in this feeling of desperation by mainly reporting bad news and harping on it. Calling the same idiots for discussions on prime time every day is hardly a way of finding solutions tour myriad problems. Media seems to be shunning every positive news because it is not sexy and gets no TRPs or advertising.We all know that publicity is what a company or individual receives when something prominent happens and when the notable event is good, the publicity usually attracts new client and gives the company something to brag about in future.We as a nation have to say that yes we are going through bad times and all of us in some way or other are contributors to this. Let’s all now resolve to get out of this rut by doing sincerely and honestly what our individual jobs are before we point fingers at others. We need to be more focused and targeted as generic strategies “Be Pakistani, buy Pakistani” “East or West, Pakistan is the best” will not work anymore.
Pakistan Movement and Building Pakistan – Organized by MUSLIM Institute
Posted by admin in Muslim Institute Seminars, Pakistan-A Nation of Hope, PAKISTANI THINKERS & COMMENTATORS on April 24th, 2016
Seminar on
Pakistan Movement and Building Pakistan
Organized by
MUSLIM Institute
MUSLIM Institute and Iqbal International Institute for Research and Dialogue Islamic University organized a seminar titled “Pakistan movement and building Pakistan” at Islamic International University, Islamabad. Eminent scholars and political leaders participated in the seminar and expressed their views on the subject. The chief guest of the seminar was Lt. General (R) Senator Abdul Qayyum. The other worthy speakers were Dr. Masoom Yaseen Zai Rector Islamic International University, Former chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Akram Zaki, Former Finance Minister, Umer Ayub, Director IRD Dr. Talib Hussain Sial, Professor of History Department Qaid-e-Azam University Dr. Farooq Ahmed Dar, Chairman MUSLIM Institute, Sahibzada Sultan Ahmed Ali and Research associate MUSLIM Institute, S.H. Qadri. Foreign delegates, professors and students of universities, scholars and researchers from different institutions, analysts and media persons actively participated in the seminar. The national anthem was played at the start of the session.
Experts expressing their views observed as under:
The main objective of Pakistan movement was to establish an Islamic welfare society in an independent state, where social justice could prevail and citizens can avail basic needs of life. It is evident from the address of thinker of Pakistan Allama Iqbal in his lecture at Aligarh that “It is not the unity of language or of country or the identity of economic interests that constitutes the basic principles of our nationality. It is because we all believe in a certain view of the Universe, and participate in the same historical traditions that we are members of the society founded by the Prophet of Islam.” In the same way Qauid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1948 explained the nationalism and model of Government in Pakistan as “Pakistan constitution should incorporate the essential principles of Islam, which are as good and relevant in our day as they were Thirteen hundred years ago”. Qauid e Azam wants to lay the foundation of a modern welfare state where masses have complete religious independence and rights of minorities could also be protected.
‘Two Nation Theory’ is the bedrock of Pakistan movement.
‘Two Nation Theory’ is the bedrock of Pakistan movement. Only those movements can succeed which are backed by ground realities. Success of Pakistan movement also relies on the fact that it was backed by a great reality of ‘Two Nation Theory’. Qauid e Azam said that we are among those nations which have fallen and are through very hard times. After the devastation of eighteenth and nineteenth century Muslims were collapsed. From the fall of Mughal Empire till now Muslim of Sub continent were never faced by such a responsibility as by enduring the responsibility of Pakistan. Muslim ruled over Subcontinent for 800 hundred years and British snatched it from Muslims and now under their rule so our demand is from British not from the Hindus. If whole of the sub-continent might have come under the Hindus it might have wiped off the Muslim civilization and their culture. Allama Iqbal pointed out that “I am observing that ideology of Nationhood on the basis of creed and country is penetrating Muslim world and I am afraid that Muslim may undervalue their unique conception of universality in humanity and overwhelmed by the regional nationhood, therefore being a Muslim and humanity loving I consider it my duty to make them recall their lesson and their role for progress of humanity”.
Allama Iqbal’s thinking
Although Allama Iqbal died several years before the creation of Pakistan but his idea of Pakistan produced profound impact on Quaid e Azam and Muslim leadership of sub-continent. Quaid e Azam himself acknowledged that Allama Iqbal thinking had great effect on him as he says in the preface of Allama Iqbals letters, “His views were substantially in consonance with my own and had finally led me to the same conclusions as a result of careful examination and study of the constitutional problems facing India and found expression in due course in the united will of Muslim India as adumbrated in the Lahore Resolution of the All-India Muslim League popularly known as the “Pakistan Resolution” passed on 23rd March, 1940”.
“Pakistan Resolution” passed on 23rd March, 1940”.
Speakers highlighted the importance of 392 days of Quaid e Azam’s life after the creation of Pakistan, for applying his principles and disciplinary approach and make continuous efforts according to his famous slogan of ‘Work, Work and only Work’. We have to make sure the supremacy of law and formulate the effective internal and foreign policy to address the contemporary issues and challenges so that we can raise the flag of Pakistan as a peaceful and progressive country in the eyes of all nations. Though we have achieved independence from British and Hindu domination, yet we have to get rid of corrupt and incompetent officials and bureaucratic system to realize the dream of true democracy. Speakers raised some critical question; do we really have built our country as dreamed of? Have we prepared our youth for progress of Pakistan? Have we been successful in creating the same passion at the time of Independence? We have to spread education and culture of research and innovation while awakening the spirit of Pakistan Movement because we have 53 million young persons. We have to build and improve national solidarity, sectarian cohesion, patience, peace and love so that Islam can enter into our hearts and homes; it would in turn bring social justice in our society and the rights of all individuals would be protected. This would bring progress and prosperity in our country. For building Pakistan we need same commitment and same dedication as displayed for the Pakistan movement.
Pakistan Building, Pakistan Movement, Pakistan Perspectives
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