Hearts of most young Pakistanis in America weep for what’s happening back home. — Dawn

Hear the young.

‘We moved to America from Akora Khattak, NWFP, when I was seven years old. I’m 22 now. It was relatively easy adapting to the environment here because we moved into an area in Jersey City, New Jersey which is called ‘Pakistani Colony’. It was easy on the eyes seeing ‘aunties’ in shalwar kameez walking around the area we lived in. Going to school though was a different story altogether. Being that we lived in the inner city urban area, it wasn't easy getting along with people who would often ridicule our accent and dress style. But as time went on, I became a product of the city.

‘When I came home, we spoke Pushto with our parents but speaking English was the norm between my brother and I. Although we would behave, dress and eat like our friends outside the house, when we came home it was a totally different story. Our parents refused to accept such behaviour at home and made sure our Pakistaniat was never corrupted. They made sure we visited Pakistan every other year and spent some time with our family there. As for an interest in journalism, it is partly inherited, although initially resisted.

‘My father is also a journalist (Bureau Chief Online News Agency). CNN would always be on in our house and I grew sick of it, but my father would always take me to any function in which a politician from Pakistan was present. I got to interact with Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif (visited him in his kings palace in Saudi Arabia) and Imran Khan among others. Soon I realised this is the crowd I wanted to be amongst. Watching my father ask critical questions of such people and drawing his interviewees’ ire was awesome for me. He is the inspiration behind my desire to become a journalist. But I was a finance student before going to college and at the same time, Pakistani TV channels started beaming in our homes around 2004-05.

‘The 2005 earthquake was also a turning point. Seeing my people in such peril was very painful. The Pakistani channels' work instilled in me a drive and I managed to raise $20,000 from friends, family and people at work. Pakistani channels helped me learn more about Pakistan than I could in a classroom. I now know who Iskandar Mirza, Ayub Khan, Z. A. Bhutto, Zia, Maj. Amir are. The way the American media exposes politicians and forces them to resign is something we need.

‘Pakistani media has however educated the public and is actually bringing about a social change. That change is what is forcing me to move back to Pakistan rather than living here in the US. Because if we can, through the media, break the silent nexus between the status quo, which includes bureaucrats, generals and politicians among others. We can become a great country.’

The above is Farrukh Salim’s dream. ‘Although Pakistan is mired in such unfortunate circumstances, it is at the crossroads and I believe its future is bright. Young people like myself need to go back and invest in our country,’ says the fresh BA. ‘That investment is based solely on bringing about a social change.’ Salim studied journalism in one of New Jersey’s most prestigious schools, the Rutgers University. ‘We must take part in politics, protest and be heard. . . In fact, it is the media and the judiciary which have instilled a new jazba in Pakistanis to take this country away from the thugs who rule it.’

He blames his father’s generation for the decay in Pakistan. ‘I personally think an entire generation is at fault. My father's generation let a leader like Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto get hanged. The nexus between the generals, politicians and the bureaucrats is to blame.’ Salim delivers his punch line: ‘The attitude of most young Pakistanis here in America is to do something for Pakistan, their hearts weep for what’s happening back home; however most settle for sending dollars to their family, nothing more. My beef with other young Pakistanis here is that, even though they care, it isn’t enough. They must be active politically and go back!’

Farrukh Salim hopes to head home soon. Godspeed.

Ambreen Rahman has a similar viewpoint. She’s a biomedical engineer from School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University.

 If you don’t know what biomedical engineering means; I don’t know either. Her impressive resume throws some light. It tells me that she’s ‘Developing a novel pressure single-mode sensor to probe inner-cochlear mechanics (2008-2009); has analysed brain tissue due to applied strain and sheer to study effects of brain injury; has studied the role of two genes in the development of a functioning kidney and urology system; and studied development of catalysis to promote fuel cell research as an alternative energy source.’ She’s the recipient of ‘William J. Clinton Foundation Global Initiative University student commitment award — 2008 & 2009’ for her work in the 2005 earthquake in Azad Kashmir. She’s also the founder of Green Roshni, a nonprofit enterprise that delivers renewable energy and sustainable products to rural markets.

How do you view Pakistan’s dire state sitting here?

‘I feel that it is depressing, but also a wealth of opportunities exist. I feel that there's a huge disconnect between people even within Pakistan. For a developing country like Pakistan, we need to acknowledge the pressing issues — poverty, crime, education, discrimination, women's rights — in our everyday life and not just take it as ‘culture’. For me, I feel that Pakistan is 'the new land of opportunity' for resilient people who can speak both Western and Eastern languages, can navigate the bureaucracy and attitudes to realise significant societal change.’

Who is responsible for the decline in Pakistan?

The citizens, arrogance, attitudes.

How can young people like yourself help your country?

Visit not for your own family or recreational purposes but to serve in underprivileged communities. Volunteer. Donate your time. I took time away from college to work as and volunteer in Pakistan in a remote charity hospital in Azad Kashmir.

What's the attitude of most of your Pakistani friends here in the US towards Pakistan?

I'm not sure if I'm the best judge of that, but mostly apathetic. Most people like to stay in their bubble or in comfortable suburbs of Pakistan when they do visit, enjoying the food, shopping etc but hardly ever noticing or taking initiative on pressing issues.

Ambreen returns to Pakistan next month.

Meanwhile the press in US  drones on about ‘Beer summit’ and why President Obama wore such ‘awful jeans’ when he hosted the black professor from Harvard and the white cop Sergeant Crowley who arrested the professor. To balance the colour combo (two blacks and two whites), Obama invited his vice president, Joe Biden.
 
‘Americans are losing jobs but the media here has nothing better to discuss than beer brands consumed at the White House. God help America!’ comments an elderly woman patient at a doctor’s clinic. I nod in agreement.
 
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