IN the legends of unforgettable accomplishments, the day of Aug. 14, 1947 falls short in prominence than the rest. It was a day of consummated aspirations for freedom, an ultimate interpretation of many dreams for independence amidst the shadows of despair and the fulfillment of hopes and beliefs to acquire a prosperous land amidst many adverse situations of sadism and voraciousness in the subcontinent at that time.
Strolling down memory lane, my thoughts revive countless accounts of juxtaposed feelings of courage and sacrifice, pain and gain, climaxing the tireless struggle and exploits of our noble ancestors just to secure a safe haven for posterity. As a result of their sacrifices, since last seven decades, the month of August dawns in our motherland with the blessed symphonies of the eccentric sovereignty that we cherish with pride and glory as a nation.
Pakistan as a country reserves a special place which is above and beyond just a geographical entity spanning over thousands of square kilometers. Its existence does not endorse prejudices, race and language; but its descent on the world’s map was solely in the name of peace and human rights. It later proved to be a bastion of faith for the oppressed, a refuge for minorities and a sanctuary of salvation for all who call it home.
In the historic address to the constituent assembly on Aug. 11. 1947, Quaid-e-Azam said, “We are members of the brotherhood of Islam in which all are equal in rights, dignity and self-respect. Consequently, we have a special and a very deep sense of unity. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the state. With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve.”
Carrying forward the legacy of our predecessors, the prevalent conditions in our country demand us to exert our true aspirations to work towards the progress and prosperity of our country.
Today is the day of commemoration — time to translate the timeless ideologies of our forefathers into accomplishment. It is the day to revitalize the high hopes of our ancestors who harbored the strong foundation of our county on the ruins of their tomorrow for our peaceful today than mere celebration, a day of realizing our individualistic ethical obligations as a nation towards our country than considering it just an event of festivity.
Reckoning our youth as real architects of our country, I advise them to devote their genuine attention towards education and lead their life in truth to their individual responsibilities towards their homeland within the ethical framework of their explicit distinctiveness.
On this special day, I extend my heartfelt felicitation to all Pakistanis across the globe and take opportunity to express my gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for the continuous commitment to keeping our eternal bond of Pak-Saudi relationship intact not merely on the territorial grounds but also by mutuality of trust as the ambassadors of similar ideologies and religious values to make this world a better place to live.
Keeping our Quaid’s objective of “living in peace within and peace without,” let’s renew our pledge of commitment and dedication to work in collaboration to celebrate our rightful place in the cosmos of nations and maintain cordial relations with the world at large.
May Allah Almighty enable us to protect both the countries and guide us to work towards their progress and prosperity! (Ameen)
Adnan Nasir
Principal of PISES
