Mera Pakistan Kesa Hu

(Maria Ilyas, )

Why are we always complaining about our country? Why are we always talking about changes that can make Pakistan more developed? Why are we so pessimistic and so disappointed in our country? Gently swaying on the metal framed swing in our front yard and enjoying the cool winds and the lovely morning weather of Karachi, the realization hit me hard. I am in love with my homeland.

A few years back, all I was dreaming was to give my kids the best education I can afford and run away to some foreign country where I could live in peace and perhaps write articles for Pakistani newspapers on the 'so-called' development of Pakistan. And what is our idea about development? Tall and high buildings, luxurious shopping malls, roads, bridges, beautiful underpasses? Our politicians come and go with promises of development but all they do is construct more and more of the above.

My dreams and ideas have changed over the years. I no longer dream of running away from Pakistan nor do I want my kids to leave. And I think that is a huge leap in the name of development in Pakistan. If we could instill the same line of thought in every Pakistani who would rather prefer to earn less but serve Pakistan than run away abroad and make their selfish future there, Pakistan will soon become a country we will all be proud of. Yes, it's a compromise because most probably Pakistan cannot give you what other countries in the west or even the middle east can give you. You will struggle. You will get frustrated because of load shedding problems. On some days there will be no gas in your pipelines. Even no water if you live in Karachi. But in the end, you will be serving Pakistan. You will feel that great sense of responsibility by serving your own country. You will feel a sense of purpose of your own life, of everything you do. And no salary package and no number of benefits can buy that great sense of purpose in your life.

Why do we complain about the low literacy rate in Pakistan when all the educated people leave the country to build their future abroad? Why do we whine about the education system if there are no able and talented Pakistanis left in the country to work for the betterment of the system? Why is the political system full of feudal lords who have probably received very little formal education? If the talented people of Pakistan leave the country to build their futures abroad, Pakistan will inevitably be left in the hands of these feudal lords.

We can all talk about the development of Pakistan. There are so many things to talk about. Corruption. Democracy. Political system. Education. But the truth is only the people of Pakistan, the Pakistanis, can build a great country our future generations will be proud of. Instead of pooling our geniuses and our talents out of the country, why don't we pool them in? Even if you receive education abroad, why don't we all come back to our homeland and serve our country?

Only the people of Pakistan can do what most leaders can only talk about. So let's dream Pakistan and let's do it.
 

Maria Ilyas
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