Traits

796,095 km somewhere in southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north. This region, where Mahajirs, Pathans, Memons or Balochi, Sindhi and Punjabi people reside. These groups are like the petals of a flower. A flower full of passion, wisdom, humour, culture, earthiness and of course, talent. A flower that gives sympathy, warmth, joy and stamina. A flower, if in your possession, will give you all the reasons to be a proud human on this world with an identity. This flower is the nation of Pakistan. This nation, giving of sweet-smelling scent just like a fresh red rose in a summer orchard.



We have the women who have amazing, I repeat- amazing super powers of bargaining! The people who can detect the smell of Chicken curry from anywhere around live here too. I don’t blame them, I blame the yummilicious food. We are the hilarious community who would crack jokes on every aspect. 

Besides that, the ‘devotion and loyalty’ is remarkable. Ashraf Chaudhary who in childhood, didn’t even have a hundred rupees for his sister’s cure to illness is today, the marketing manager of seven widely-known hotels in Pakistan. What made him successful was his devotion to education, his ambition, his striving. Who would have known that Ahsraf who had submitted a job application as a waiter in a hotel would become the hotel’s own Marketing Manager? Another quality, I HAVE to mention- the earthiness. Us Pakistani’s can be described as legends to creative ideas. We’ve been using natural ‘stuff’ like almonds, milk, nuts etc. in place of fancy products. And trust me, they work a lot better! Heard of Olive hand-made soaps? It’s definitely mind-blowing. Last but not the least (among those, I were to talk about here)- Celebration! Our Mendi’s are crazy dance parties. We will happily spend hours on making huge posters or cards on whatever event, whether it be Eid or the Independence Day. There is a majority of husbands who on their holidays will attempt to cook food.. Even those who have had several fail attempts at making the simplest of all- tea. That includes my own Father. (Dad, if you’re reading this.. at least you’re good at making Milo). The only thing I’m going to complain about is failure of motivation. Motivation to unity.

The motto of the Pakistani nation is to act in order to know who they are, but not to ask. It is certain action will delineate and define you, as quoted by Thomas Jefferson. The way to get started is quit talking and begin doing. I share the theme of motivation with Sharmeen Ubaid Chinnoy, who made history on February 26, 2012 becoming the first Pakistani to win an Academy award for her work against violence towards women. "I think it is important for Pakistanis to share their talent and skill with the rest of the world. In terms of image abroad, I think it will be interesting to see a different side of Pakistan, even if its just for one night… I feel it is important to address issues instead of running away from them. That is the first step to accept that we have faults just like other countries." I have the deepest of hopes we work on this. This is done and we can be tough competitors who can achieve absolutely anything. 

Patriotism.

The land of martyrs, where every drop in freedom fighter’s blood has fought not for itself but for the nation, has today become immune to ‘patriotism’. Yes, I am talking about our country Pakistan where patriotism needs to be revived and redefined. We all probably remember patriotism when we win an India-Pakistan cricket match. But we definitely forget it when our countrymen need our help. Do we really love our country? Then why is, that we see garbage thrown on our streets? The founder of Pakistan- Muhammad Ali Jinnah, at the age of 14 advised his friends ‘’don’t play with marbles in the dust; it spoils your clothes and dirties your hands. We must play cricket.’’ Two things can be pointed out in this example. Firstly, the fact that his friends dropped the marbles and followed him shows that Ali could be persuasive even at such a small age. Secondly, he emphasized on ‘cleanliness is half faith’. We see wall chalking on beautiful bridges that have been newly constructed. Why is it, that we cannot stand in a queue patiently waiting for our turn? Why do we violate traffic rules and cause death and misery?

Patriotism has become just a formality saluting our national flag on 14^th August, and I am sorry to say it is forgotten on the 15^th when we see the same flags lying on the ground, or tattered in the flag posts. Now let us consider what patriotism should be in true sense of the word. Small things and actions persuaded with a notion of doing good to other countrymen is patriotism. Patriotism should be a part of our day to day lives. ‘’We have to build up the character of our future generations which means highest sense of honour, integrity, selfless service to the nation, and sense of responsibility, and we have to see that we are fully qualified or equipped to play their part in various branches of economic life which will do honour to Pakistan,’’ said Quaid-e-Azam.

Let us express our love and devotion to our country for no reason, but for being a true Pakistani. It should be our request for one another to participate in the creation of a better Pakistan. Step up and make a difference. Your small share can bring a big change. Ask yourself, can we be honest in our words and tolerant in our deeds? Think about it.

Pakieland.

We are on our road to progress. I know of no nation state that has achieved in five or six decades of its birth as much as Pakistan has achieved in all fields of human endeavour. When it burst forth on the world's map on I4th August 1947, it had no federal government, which was quickly created in large Euro tents under a cabinet of six ministers. Shortage of pen, ink, paper was made up by using copying pencils. Minister of Foreign Affairs had only one type writer and secretaries of various grades carried files to each other till peons could be employed. Slowly but surely, we moved on. We are facing the consequences bravely as before. We have not lagged behind in other fields We have been world champions in four sports; cricket, hockey, squash and snooker.




In agriculture we have developed new varieties of rice and wheat. We have developed a new brand of citrus fruit 'Kino'. We are world's fifth largest producer of milk which we are now marketing abroad. We have not lagged behind in the academic and intellectual world. Our scholars have been awarded the Noble Prize, the Lenin Peace Prize, the highest award of the Arab world and the highest award of the Catholic world.



Our boys and girls have topped in the Cambridge schools exams world wide. Pakistan has a rich and unique culture that has preserved established traditions throughout history. Many cultural practices, foods, monuments, and shrines were inherited from the rule of Muslim Mughal and Afghan emperors including the national dress of Shalwar Qameez. Women wear brightly coloured shalwar qameez, while men often wear solid-coloured ones, usually with a sherwani or achkan (long coat) that is worn over the garment.

Us Pakistanis, whether within the country or outside of it, are an emotionally heightened group of people. Whether it is protesting on the cold streets of Toronto and New York to plead the U.S government to cease drone attacks on our beloved country or advocating within the country against violence toward women, we do it with a passion and zeal that is unmatched. The result of this dedication is that the undaunted women of our nation are finally raising their voices and being heard. Our country is an open book and is constantly in the eyes of the mainstream media. Not a day goes by without Pakistan’s name being uttered by a news anchor, followed by graphic images of explosions and bloodshed. Female doctors, lawyers, activists and peacemakers are taking to the streets, demanding change and progress.



Children like Malala Yousufzai and Arfa Karim (RIP) have impacted the world’s sentiments towards the constantly torn country bringing to light a major aspect that is largely ignored on an international level: We, the women of Pakistan, are in no way a reflection of the fundamental, violent and corrupt forces of our country. When given the opportunity to advance through education and career, instead of having our rights violated, the possibilities of what we are capable of achieving are endless and infinite.



Not to forget, Pakistan may not have brought home any medals from the 2012-2013 Olympics, but it can now lay claim to world records in chapati-making, plug-wiring and chessboard-arranging.



We have poets like Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Anwar Maqsood and Alamgir Hashim. Doctor’s like Hasnat Khan, Arif Alvi and Shahzad Shams. Architects like Yasmeen Lari and Hammad Husain. Fashion designers like Amir Adnan and Hasan Sheharyar. Vocal artists like Ali Zafar and Atif Aslam. If I keep going on, it’s going to take me hours to write in the names of talented Pakistani’s. The point is, what field do we lack in? And if there is any, we are sure to be progressing! Just one, deep thought and you have millions of reasons to be a proud Pakistani!



Some say 64 years are too less for nations to develop and show character. But Pakistan has certainly proved this wrong. We have gained achievements that are unique in this world. Achievements that make other countries envy of us. Achievements that provide leadership and motivation to other countries. Achievements that we as Pakistanis should be proud of. Achievements that can continue to motivate current and coming generations of Pakistanis to do better and even better. Everyone, everything has a good phase. Long prosper my Pakieland!