Success and failure of a nation has deep impression on the individuals of that nation. This impression can be easily felt when you see individuals of different nations meeting each other. An American meeting a British, the same British meeting a French, a Finish or a Pakistani. The attitude will be different in all those individual meetings, though the background of the meeting and individuals has its own influence on the attitude. This attitude is well reflected when dignitaries/officials of one nation/country visits the other. How Pakistani officials are treated in UK, USA, and Germany and how Pakistani treats UK, USA & Germany officials.

What is behind those attitudes? Is it simply because some countries are richer while others are poor? Or there are other things as well. If money is the only thing that makes a difference than some middle eastern countries are richer than many western countries.

Pride of a nation is not only in economics, though good or bad economy might be one of the outcomes. What really makes the difference is THINKNG. Positive thinking is the key to success. Positive thinking is not feeling good about everything but it is about finding positive way-out even in the worst situations.

Here it is important to say that while positive thinking is the key to success but thinking without action again is meaningless.

Here I would like to ask myself what do other nationalities think about Pakistanis in general or what our impression is (keeping aside official interaction during duty times). No matter what feel good mode we are living with, reality is not what we would like to hear. Forget about other nations, some simple questions to ourselves might lead us to the conclusion e.g.

• Except few brands/goods (Shan Masala, Pakistani Beef/Mutton, Bareeze, etc) are we keen to buy Pakistani products in general?
• Do we believe when a strange Pakistani approaches us for your support with a big story?
• Is it easy for us getting visas for other countries especially western?
• How are we treated by immigration officers of other countries?
• Are we ready to move all or a large portion of our investment into Pakistan?
• How many tourists visit Pakistan every year (even when situation was better)?

I understand that last two questions are heavily influenced by governmental policies in this regard.

Recently one more star has been added to our credentials now wherever in the world something bad happens and people start looking for links with Pakistan.

Is this impression okay rather acceptable for a nation which created a country on the map of the world??? We can scream NO, NO, NO. Do we want to continue living with impression? I believe a bigger NO, NO, NO. So what we should do because this will not reverse automatically.

Some might say what is wrong with our impression we are fine people and even much better than some other countries. Lets take corruption as an example, where are we on the scale of corruption? Let’s assume we are in the middle not very high and not very low. But is it acceptable for us as Pakistanis.

What is important here is the context in which we measure ourselves. My dear friends, when I say Pakistan is the most important country in world it is not only in the muslim world but for the whole world. I repeat we created Pakistan on the world map and entirely at our own, are we the same nation? How many countries are there on world map which came into being by peoples’ will? I totally disagree that Pakistan was created by others for their own agenda. No Sir, Pakistan came into being after millions of sacrifices. People sacrificed their loved ones, their properties and their businesses for Pakistan. We are the generation of same people who made history some 60 years ago. We still have some of the people who were either part of that history or witness of that account. Many people who made it to Pakistan made penniless but there was a feeling of accomplishment, a sense of hope, and eagerness to prove something. A country with meager or no resources, with millions of traumatized and penniless migrants not only survived but progressed.

What was the driving force then? How it all happened? Was it faith? Was it a commitment? Was it leadership? Or was it mere help of Allah? Remember even Allah help only those who help themselves. Only when there is will, there is a way.

We need to pause a little from our routines, do some deep thinking, develop some strategy and get our pride back. Believe me it is not impossible but may be a bit difficult.

To begin with I would like to request you to send me five major issues/challenges that Pakistan is facing, the root cause of those issues/challenges and how can we resolve them. Kindly send your emails to knadeem@hotmail.co.uk or by email to Pak Association Dubai.

Based on your response we will arrange sessions to discuss top ten issues. We will also arrange sessions to rebuild our image as Pakistani. May Allah Help Us!