To Whom It May Concern

I did not ask to be a Pakistani, I just got lucky.

Last month I had to go to Quetta from Lahore and happened to travel through a train. I saw nearby small kids coupled with some Youngsters waving hands for the passengers on the way and some passengers (mostly kids but some aged too) waving back as a goodwill gesture, an unexplainable yet amusing do to me. Train from Lahore passes through cores of Punjab all the way off Sindh and then Enters Baluchistan.
Whenever there were kids, there was a waving of Hand from both sides. On the spur of the moment, I saw a lady pointing out the Sindhis, Pakhtoons, Punjabis and Balochs to his 9 year old son who seemed quite oblivious of the ethnic game. The kid’s unacquainted next statement was “Mom! They look same. Even their wave of hands is alike”

There is Crisis of Ethnic integration in Pakistan since its birth. It is the victim of poor national integration which is fundamental problem and by the same token Pakistan has been pushed to a vicious circle. That has deepened the state of instability and vulnerability to a total break down of state apparatus.

“Pakistan” the name itself is so rich and is encompassing many identities to from a single most identity. Word “Pakistan”, coined in 1933, is unified form of five different names of regions Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir, Sindh and Baluchistan and so is the country amalgam and unification of these five ethnicities. This etymology made me astonished, flabbergasted and these lines went true:

“We are all equal in the fact that we are all different. We are all the same in the fact that we will never be the same. We are united by the reality that all colors and all cultures are distinct & individual. We are harmonious in the reality that we are all held to this earth by the same gravity. We don't share blood, but we share the air that keeps us alive.” 

But the fact that rattled me to my very core is that “people” are still unwitting of this “National Identity” and they have created Identities within identity within identity and so on. This has leaded us to Cultural Intolerance, Lack of Religious Acceptance and tribal conflicts etc. With the time passing by, we are rather unfortunate to have thrown our National motto of faith, unity and discipline out of the National Dictionary. What is more of the concern is the hatred of Provinces towards each other has made National Reconciliation Fragile. In this hour we need “Pakistanis” not Punjabis, Sindhis, Muhajirs etc.

When we will make our children to feel like “Pakistani”, Pakistan will prosper.

So, here lie the two options for us. Let this system run, let it destroy our National identity and make our existence subtle and allow diminution of our reality OR We should take Action put our differences aside, Frame national interests’ first priority, hear other’s opinions to form a consensus, Accept dissimilarities and resolve conflicts. I think latter is more difficult because it asks to sacrifice our egos. National unity, security, and integrity will be achieved if the primary emphasis is placed on promoting equity and harmony. Even SPIDER webs united, can tie up a lion.

So, if we need to get out of this grave we have to unify again and make PAKISTAN what it was destined for.

So, here is my Request, Respect Your Country. You won’t get Lucky again.

Thank you.

Written By: Saad Iftikhar