Pakistan & Gulf Economist

Pakistan Day: celebrated or observed

In the 27th annual session of Pakistan Muslim League scheduled on 23-3-1940 Maulvi Fazal-ul-Haq, the Chief Minister of Bengal, proposed the resolution that the majority of the 80 million Muslims living in the Sub-Continent called for the establishment of a separate nation, and the calls for a separate electorate changed into a quest for an independent homeland, where they could live freely and practice their beliefs in the manner they chose. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah presided over this historic session, lending weight to its proceedings. This resolution is composed of five, one-sentence paragraphs. The resolution included no mention of the name Pakistan; in reality, the antagonistic Hindu press coined the phrase “Pakistan Resolution” under this custom. The Lahore Resolution became known as the Pakistan Resolution after the Muslim League accepted it.

A pluralistic, egalitarian, peaceful, and successful nation where all people are treated equally regardless of their caste, religion, origin, or culture was the ideal principle that the country’s founding fathers shared. As per resolution, minorities should have explicit constitutional protection for their rights of political, administrative, economic, cultural, and other aspects of their lives. Pakistan was finally achieved by Muslims in the Subcontinent seven years later, in 1947, thanks to the resolve and tenacity of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah where Quaid’s ability to predict the outcome of Muslims living under a Hindu majoritarian government led by the Congress was a testament to his foresight.

With Pakistan Day being celebrated in the few upcoming days it might be prudent to pause and consider if the day is truly being “celebrated” or just “observed.” It is difficult to overlook the harsh reality of instability and uncertainty. The country that the ancestors had hoped for and fought for is very different from the one that is being passed down to the younger generation. Pakistan is currently rated 99th out of 121 nations on the Global Hunger Index (GHI), which illustrates just how dire things are in the nation. Except for Afghanistan and Yemen, all of the nations below us are in Africa. But many of us should be happy with our ranking India comes in at 107th rather than feeling embarrassed by it. That implies that there is nothing to be concerned about, right?

Source: https://www.globalhungerindex.org/pdf/en/2023/Pakistan.pdf

It is disappointing and depressing to see such a complacent attitude and lack of urgency in tackling the serious problems of hunger and malnutrition in the nation. The truth is that the severe resource inequality and enduring food problems afflicting the nation are brought to light by our GHI rating.

The ruling class’s entrenched interests combined with the pernicious grip of economic inequality have left the people to wither away in a never-ending condition of starvation and suffering. If there is such an awareness at all, the suffering of the masses of the underprivileged, who are compelled to go to bed hungry and count it a blessing if they get more than one meal a day, leaves a permanent impression on our country. Their physical and mental development is hampered by the epidemic of hunger, therefore their potential to contribute to the country’s progress is unrealised and wasted. We must respond to this humanitarian disaster with the seriousness and compassion it so richly deserves because the heartbreaking truth of the situation is just too much to stomach.

The language of their callous leaders is widely known to the populace. The most vulnerable segments of society are left to bear the burden of the ongoing, unending crisis as a result of the ruling class’s persistent finger-pointing and blame game The leaders need to demonstrate some “zeal” and “fervor” right now by putting aside their political and interpersonal differences and cooperating to find a common solution and, eventually, a way out of the deadlock. It is our common duty to make sure that no one goes hungry to bed in a country of purity since the lives and well-being of millions of people are at risk. It’s past time for our leaders to acknowledge the seriousness of the problem and act to lessen the suffering of the most vulnerable members of society. Political leaders must accept accountability and behave honorably. Politicians ought to focus on the welfare of their fellow citizens rather than making excuses or shifting blame.

Our political leaders must get a firsthand understanding of the realities that underpin the lives of the people they purport to represent. This can only be accomplished by living those realities rather than just discussing them. Politicians need to get out of their comfort zones and spend time in the communities they serve, getting to know the people there, understanding their fundamental needs and difficulties, and listening to the voices of hurt and latent fury. Politicians can only even begin to contemplate making the necessary judgments after going through the difficult realities themselves.

Although the state and political system are responsible for taking care of its citizens as a citizen we all have to identify our roles as well, as nothing can be done through idle efforts. The miracle we expect is only possible through a joint effort so, on this Pakistan day, being a Pakistani citizen we must ensure that this day will not only be celebrated but observed with full zeal and zest.

The resolution highlighted that “No constitutional plan would be workable in a country or acceptable to the Muslims unless it is designed on the following basic principles, namely, that the geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should also be constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary that the areas in which the Muslims are in a majority as in the North-Western and Eastern Zones of India should be grouped to constitute independent states in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign”


The Author is MD IRP/ Faculty Department of H&SS, Bahria University Karachi

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