Pakistan day festivities and the future of Pakistan.

Byline: Khalil Ahmed

It was soothing to know that all Pakistanis were on the same page and spoke with one voice during the recent skirmishes between Pakistan and India. The spirit of patriotism was all pervasive across the country. This is the beauty of the Pakistani nation. It was prior to the independence of Pakistan, when 80 million Indian Muslims realized that they were in minority and were deprived of their basic rights in the Hindu majority sub-continent. The Muslims commenced their struggle for a separate homeland and their dream came true in the shape of beautiful Pakistan, our dear homeland. It was way back in February 1941, when the Muslim League Working Committee decided that March 23 would be celebrated as the Pakistan Resolution day. We all know that Pakistan Day commemorates the passing of the Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940 which stipulated that the Muslims wanted a separate Muslim state for the Muslims of the British Indian Empire.

Pakistan Day is celebrated every year with national zeal and fervor. Various processions are taken out and a deluge of seminars and events are organized to emphasize the significance of this day. Festivities are witnessed everywhere right from the President and Prime Minister Houses to the Governor Houses across the country. It is great to know that various high profile dignitaries from across the world come to Pakistan as the Prime Minister of Malaysia is on the visit of Pakistan this year mainly to take part in the celebrations of the Pakistan Day in addition to various business ventures for mutual benefits of Pakistan and Malaysia.

During the festivities of Pakistan Day this year, the incumbent government must have realized that there is dire need to take right economic decisions to pull the country out of the economic quagmire. Pakistan has monumental potential for the economic growth however enormous challenges lie ahead which are to be tackled. Along with the celebrations of the festivities, it is imperative to look at the conundrums which Pakistan is confronting even after almost seven decades of its existence. Pakistan confronts two emergent conundrums at this juncture and they are dilapidated infrastructure and rampant corruption and these two issues have been discussed from time to time by the people at the helm of affairs. Besides, Pakistan faces lower literacy rate which has fallen to 58%. It is believed that the literacy rate among the population of 15 years and older in Pakistan...