I speak of a nation. Across the realms of darkness of the
Arabian Sea, there stretches 6774km of land dominated by a population which
bleeds green. They bleed the blood of those individuals who failed to lose hope
despite the existence of numerous calamities. They bleed the blood of those who
strived with unparalleled determination for a dream whose very ideology raised
skepticism. They bleed the blood of those who presented their heads as a token
for future prosperity of this sacred land. They bleed the blood of those who
believed in “Unity, Faith and Discipline” and never gave up…
Ladies and gentlemen, I speak of a nation called “Pakistan”.
In the realms of darkness exists a luminous globe whose light has always filled
the residents of this land with warmth. The intensity of this warmth is such
that it gives rise to the powerful of all human emotions and that my dear
fellows, is HOPE.
Presently, they say that dark ages have struck this nation
as a young man leaves his home knowing that this might be the last glimpse of
his family, a woman has to face obstacles on her way to establishing herself in
light of education, children are immune to the flashes of people dying around
them as the clock ticks by, poverty continues to grow and security of life has
eluded away, the economic and political conditions grow unstable and in fact
every day is a challenge to beat the odds. However this nation – this beautiful
nation – refuses to erode away. My question is, WHY?
My dear people, a self-apprehended answer arises from
someone who is a part of this distinguished community. It is a nation which
holds on to a string of emotion and never allows for it to elope from its grasp
and continues to mend the pieces of its broken yet unimaginably powerful
comprehensions. The nation which shall continue its fight with infinite valor
based eminently on the fore steps of its ancestors is a nation which will step
out of this aggressive jeopardy. This surge of HOPE is what halts it to step
into the dark ages. As long as that is alive, Pakistan continues to bleed
green. To tame hope in our hearts is perhaps to encounter the impossible.
As long as the inhabitants
of this country are alive, this nation is not weak. We are a nuclear power; we
are the winners of the cricket world cup of 1992; we have the world’s largest
privately owned ambulance charity service; we produced Dr. Abdus Salam – the
noble prize winner; we produced Malala Yousafzai who became the voice against
oppression; we produced Dr. Abdul Sattar Edhi who received the Lenin Peace
Prize for his services to humanity; we have one of the best armed forces in the
world; our students continue to set world records due to their academic
achievements on an annual basis; we are one of the largest cotton producers and
much, much more. So hear this dear people, we will continue to flourish and
this nation shall not erode away as long as our hearts beat with hope and they
cry “Unity, Faith and Discipline” no matter how harsh the times. We salute the flag which sways
with the wind and our eyes shed tears of pride as we realize this flag is worth
the battle of life and death. 