Dear Pakistan,
From the start, let me apologise for writing to you after such a long time. Things have been hectic. This is not to say that your life has been a walk in the park either! I still remember what a proud moment it was when you were born. Congratulations poured in from across the globe, people from all walks of life celebrated your birth, uncertainty was abound but there was a sense that you will do great things, become great and even enable greatness. People were hungering for a fresh and pure start, an ambition that was reflected in your name – Pakistan. Your early days were not easy. Other, bigger kids picked on you – bullies also came but so did your friends. In all that, you defended your corner well! Coming from a humble background, you made the most of it and provided solace and comfort to all and sundry.
We gravely mishandled and abused the budding opportunities you provided us
Your welcoming arms embraced many – regardless of religion or caste or creed. There was less wealth but more humanity. There was less in the pocket but more in the heart. There was less to show but more to savour. As you grew older, your greatest attributes came to the fore. Your immense landscapes – from the towering Himalayas in the North to the fertile Indus Valley in the South.
Your great geological resources – natural gas in one corner and deposits of coal and minerals in another. Your abundant agricultural produce – wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, maize being at the top of the list. Your internationally respected service industry – greatest airline, best manufacturing principles, paramount scientific innovations. And last but not least, your world renowned thinkers and scholars – from the left and the right, all in your service.
After the initial romance died down, things began to change. I am saddened to say that this was because of us – your people and not because of you. You still provided the same hope, potential and opportunity to your citizens but these dastardly citizens took a turn for the worst! Enabled by their so called leaders, people started the transition of the society from values to valuelessness.
Had they realised what they were to end up with, and how they would abuse your generosity, beloved Pakistan, they would have thought twice before embarking on this downward spiral. But no one, including a kind country such as you, can out run their fate!
Your political leaders’ hunger for power made them blind to your service and that of your people
The rot starts from the top. Your political leaders’ hunger for power made them blind to your service and that of your people. A history of political instability ensued, with frequent changes in government and power centres, which made it difficult to implement strategic policies and maintain continuity in governance. The trickledown effect meant an attrition of basic societal agreements. Law and order, justice, education, health, communal parity, economic opportunities all were meant for a select few. This resulted in massive social inequalities, particularly between urban and rural areas as well as different ethnic and religious groups. The result? You will be heartbroken to know that almost 40% of Pakistanis now live below the poverty line, approximately 27 million school going children are out of school and over 40% of under-5s have stunted growth. I can feel your pain. What’s more?
Outside the woeful performance of your political class, there is also a failing ruling elite – they may think they are the actual power brokers but are seemingly as unable and as clueless as the rest of us!
The glorious seasons that you provide have become the proverbial pain in our backsides for the majority of us. The lazy, long drawn summers have been overshadowed by electricity shortages and resulting chaos. The sense of enjoying the winter Sun is long gone, with not enough gas to cook one meal a day, let alone heat homes. The autumnal and vernal shifts are not pleasant due to increased levels of pollution and environmental disasters. Where there was once chanting and dancing in the magnificent monsoon rains, now there are only prayers that may the death and destruction be limited this rainy period.
You will also be aghast to know that we the people have made a mockery of the notions of equality, civility and humanity that you had started us with! Intolerance is the buzz word now, followed swiftly by extremism and polarisation. In any discourse, the going wisdom from one side to the other is “not only you will admit you are wrong but you will also admit I am right”. It is unfathomable, I know. The depths we have fallen to, even more so. People were hungering for a fresh and pure start, an ambition that was reflected in your name – Pakistan The worst manifestation of moral disagreements and misplaced policies is reflected in the scourge of militancy, in the form of insurgency and terrorism. Your population has faced that threat with relative bravery and courage but they could have done without that evil in their daily lives.
Their sacrifices are near hundreds of thousands. I know this will come as somber news to you but it is the poignant truth.
In the end, I can only say sorry. We were not worthy. We gravely mishandled and abused the budding opportunities you provided us. You gave us such start, such promise and look where we ended up. With a heavy heart
