MY first awareness about Pakistan and the Quaid came through the stories I use to hear, as a small child, from my grandmother. Later, when I started school I gradually came to learn more and more about my country, Pakistan, and the Quaid, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, as both are considered inseparable from one another. As my understanding and learning for both grew with the passage of time, it increased my love for them.

The Quaid was a man of courage. He had a remarkably clear mind and possessed common sense in abundance. He was an enlightened person and always kept himself away from controversies, intrigues and squabbles. His vision was clear and he possessed the strength of character. He was gifted with the power of persuasion, was a brilliant orator and had a sound judgment. The Quaid could be curiously aggressive or almost boyishly persuasive as the occasion demanded. He ardently believed in equality, fraternity, human rights and rights of minorities, justice, freedom, integrity and fair play, and preached it vociferously through personal example. All this earned him respect and an enviable reputation as a great leader.

The Quaid had a lot of expectations from the youth. He considered them as the real makers of Pakistan, provided they lived up to their potential. The Quaid would always emphasize upon students to give their best. “You must realise the magnitude of your responsibility and be ready to bear it. If you fritter away with your energies now, you will always regret it,” the Quaid once said.

In his address to students of Islamia College, Peshawar in April 1948 he said, “Develop a sound sense of discipline, character, initiative and a solid academic background. You must devote yourself wholeheartedly to your studies so that you are able to first fulfil personal obligations; the obligations towards parents and that of the state as well.”

He also advised, “Students must direct their attention to science, banking, insurance, industry and technical education since new channels and avenues have now been thrown open to you after the creation of Pakistan.”

He had hope that our educated, responsible, united and disciplined youth will bring about revolutionary changes to build Pakistan on sound footings. That we failed to deliver is a different story and is as much a fault on our part as that of our ancestors.

Had Quaid been alive today, he would have been appalled to see the behaviour of the youth in general and the present-day conditions in the country. This perhaps is because the Pakistani youth, minus exceptions, have, unfortunately, been quite ignorant and know little about their leader — who had so skilfully created Pakistan by legal and constitutional means.

If we emulate the Quaid as the role model and equip ourselves with necessary education, we can keep pace with the fast moving world.What is expected of us is a constructive spirit. The right environment will minimise ills from our society, improve the literacy rate and provide opportunities for growth. Please allow and teach the youth to play an effective role in society or else we will deviate from the vision he had of Pakistan and the Pakistani youth.

Long live Pakistan.