Reflections of a Wanderer

By Sir Hasan Habib

Senior Lecturer Center for Policy & Area Study,

Institute of Business Management

Resolution is an expression of will or decision supported by a group of people through voting and to stay determined on that decision.

Freedom is one of the most precious gifts of nature to humans. Some lucky get it easier, others have to go through struggles and sacrifices. Pakistan was the result of a democratic struggle but hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives in riots leading to freedom.

As a Pakistan Foreign Service officer, I got the opportunity to live in 7 countries and visit many scores. Representing Pakistan in Europe, Asia, and Africa. This experience teaches one to love his country more and more. Imagine hoisting the green-white flag every 23 March and 14 August with pride and honor in front of Pakistanis and foreigners. The feeling is indescribable. One must cherish the bounties that Allah has given to Pakistan. What one really misses is the warmth of the Pakistani people. In the modern world, people have become self-centered to the level of selfishness. Not Pakistanis who are in sharing and caring.

There persists a negative image of Pakistan. All my 30-plus years in the service of Pakistan I had tried to improve. Especially when your leaders are universally considered inefficient, tagged as corrupt having amassed huge wealth abroad. So my first priority to improve

Pakistan's image would be to show some good judicial action against corruption. It has to be high profile and transparent.

The performance of our state apparatus remains questionable. This lands us in serious financial problems and debt traps that will haunt us for decades. I would like to improve the administrative and political efficiency of the country. It would not be cheap but its dividend would reach people directly. No self-serving political dispensation for Pakistan.

Our dismal agriculture and industrial sector need to be overhauled to make it competitive in the current international environment.

Merit and purely on merit should be installed in our system. A good universal education that reaches all. The current elitist education system needs to be done away with. A purposeful education that focuses on vocation and entrepreneurship is our urgent need. Pakistan needs broad-based participation from its youth. Our future depends on healthy, educated, and motivated youth.

International image is related to sports and culture. On the cultural front Pakistani music and cuisine are much appreciated abroad. But in sports much need to be done at the grass level. There is a need to provide physical and technical training to emerging talent. This will promote a healthy youth that will bring a good name to Pakistan. The present dismal performance of our national team needs to be improved soon.

Allah has blessed Pakistan with great beauty. It could attract tons of tourists but our security image is so bad that foreigners Pakistan. Majestic peaks, serene beaches, and calm desert all are Pakistan’s hidden treasures. This year local tourism has picked up and external tourists will follow. We need to provide the tourist with secure and affordable journeys.

Pakistanis have a great passion for charity. Our major charities are fairly organized and are really role models to expand networks wider to cover rural masses. Edhi sahib was a real role model for all of us. A selfless person trying to reach every needy Pakistan and beyond. But our NGOs should expand more with innovative fundraising from home and abroad. With a sizeable Pakistani diaspora abroad this is very doable.

This country has given us so much. Let us return some and make Pakistan a better place with our dedication, honesty and hard work.