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Imran Khan’s tsunami, the roaring waves of tabdeeli, has finally struck the shores of Pakistan. The entire country stands to wait, with bated breaths, as Khan grabs the reins of the powerhouse in Islamabad.
Like him or not, there is no denying that the lofty promises and the high hopes that Khan ignited in his election manifesto sound like the right recipe for the impoverished country. If fulfilled, Pakistan, that has been slumping perpetually, downwards into depths of debt and poverty, could finally see herself rise to economic happiness.
However, there is an if. We, Pakistanis, have made an apt choice in electing Khan: a charismatic, qualified and eloquent leader, with a history of victories. But our job here is not done; in fact, it has just begun. In our quest for Naya Pakistan, know that the journey is long and tiring with obstacles hard and plenty. Khan alone cannot engineer the change in the country. The common man, us the plebeians, need to play our part to revitalize Pakistan. In this age of technology and social media, there is a lot more impact we can make than we think.
Here is how together, we can build the foundations of Naya Pakistan:
1. Accountability
Accountability must start from the top rung in the power ladder as Imran Khan himself eloquently said in his victory speech. From creating 10 million jobs to elevating Pakistan to top 100 economies in the world, Khan has promised a lot. We, as a nation, must see to it that all these promises bear fruit. We, as a nation, must not let any injustice be done to us and stay mum about it. And dare the future government fails to honor their word, we must hold them accountable and drag them to the cold corridors of court if the need arises.
2. Start Small
We are building a new country, and countries are not built overnight. We need to lay a brick at a time. I am not asking you to run parades or start a revolutionary organization. We could start something as small as not littering in the streets or planting a tree on the Independence Day. Small ripples like these can trigger huge waves of change.
3. Minorities And The Marginalized
Remember that the white in our flag represents the rights of minorities. Hindus, Christians, Ahmedis continue to be pummeled under the giant wheels of discrimination and oppression. It is about time we realize that minorities no matter which God they bow to are Pakistanis just like us. Then, there are transgenders who are forced to live in one of the two gender boxes. Their lives are marred with humiliation and harassment on daily basis with no one to champion their hardships. In Naya Pakistan, as a nation, we need to recognize them as equal Pakistani citizens and give them the due rights they deserve.
4. Balochistan
Balochistan is burning – and with alarming ferocity. The separatist movements are on the surge. Droughts come every year consuming thousands of lives. A huge chunk of Balochistan population is living in abject poverty. Peace is still a far-fetched dream in Pakistan’s largest province. We need to raise voice for the people of Balochistan who were perpetually neglected by the past governments.
5. Taxes
Our biggest dilemma is the sad state of our economy. Asad Umar, the future Finance minister, appears to be the apt man for the Herculean challenges that the economy faces. As responsible citizens of Pakistan, the least we can do is pay our due taxes to emancipate the country from the shackles of debt.
6. Mullahs
Let us face it: it is hard to rule Pakistan without the aye of Mullahs. Take a small peek back at Pakistan’s history and you’d see court decisions overruled, ministers nullified and even murdered by the power of mullahs. These self-proclaimed guardians of Islam, who preach hatred and barbarism in the name of religion, who murder innocent minorities using the farce of blasphemy, are the blight infecting our society. Pakistanis must shun their teachings and embrace true Islam which champions peace, equality, and love for the mankind.
7. Education
The access to education is paramount in our quest to rejuvenate the country. Our schools and madrassahs are in shambles and there is a dire need to revise the outdated school curriculum. Just a few days ago, a girls’ school was torched and vandalized in Gilgit. We, the common populace, must make sure that our children have full access to education, so they flower into educated adults and contribute for the future of Pakistan.
Here is to the Naya Pakistan. Pakistan Zindabaad!
