Pakistan needs a drastic change, says Ali Zafar

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Pakistan needs a drastic change, says Ali Zafar

Entertainment Desk Published March 16, 2015

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In an interview with CNN aired today, Pakistani actor and singer Ali Zafar spoke about December 16, 2014, the dark day that was the Peshawar school massacre.

Speaking about how his parents were educationalists, Ali reveals perhaps that was the reason that the tragedy affected him even more: "I canceled my tours and concerts and couldn't gather myself to do much in coming weeks."

A little over a month after the heinous attack, the singer united the film fraternity on one common platform in the video of his song, Urain Ge, a touching tribute to the victims.

"We all got together because we all want a progressive, peaceful, tolerant and positive Pakistan. And the response to the song and video further solidified my belief that every Pakistani wants the same. They just need someone to show them the way. And to me, education is the way forward. It's the the key to progress and peace," said the Kill Dil star.

Pakistan is misrepresented

The singer went on to talk about how there's a lot more to Pakistan than what people get to see and the extremist minority taints the image of the nation. He believes Pakistan is a nation that wants to live in harmony and the singer urges the global community to lend a hand.

"Pakistan needs your help. It has been fighting this battle for years and lost countless lives in the process. Its economy has also suffered. The world needs to see Pakistan in a whole different light to help us out of this darkness. They need to partner with us towards progress," explains Zafar.

Taking action

Realizing that a step towards developing a better education system was imperative, Ali took it in his stride to do exactly that.

Zafar revealed: "I collaborated with a leading Pakistani educational non-profit organization, The Citizens Foundation (TCF) and 141schools.org (141 SCHOOLS), a new citizen web movement. Together, they are building 141 schools across Pakistan."

"Each school will be dedicated to the children and teachers who lost their lives in attack on December 16, 2014. All proceeds from the downloads of the song will go towards building schools for the children of Pakistan and ensuring a bright future," he added

Divulging that the cost of each school is Rs. 20.7 million ($202,900), Ali issued a call to action for anyone who would want to donate towards the process.

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Nisar

Mar 16, 2015 02:28pm

Agree with his comments,but at the same time, we also need to highlight the behaviour of Pakistan's neighbours and their involvement in the Peshawar attack, I want peace in Pakistan, but not at the expense of Pakistan's respect and sovereignty, as Ali Z is an international star, he need to highlight, that not all of Paks issues have their roots within Pak borders. I am not trying to divide opinion, as even across the border, we have peace loving people.

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Ossy

Mar 16, 2015 02:32pm

Respect...

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Moosa

Mar 16, 2015 02:32pm

I just donated on the TCF link. I urge others to step up too.

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Rajat

Mar 16, 2015 02:43pm

"Pakistan needs your help. It has been fighting this battle for years and lost countless lives in the process. Its economy has also suffered" You need to ask other countries for help and at the same time attempt to honestly eradicate problems in your own country. When you admit you have got yourselves into a problem mostly due to your own policies, you need to keep your ego aside and ask for help (no, not aid, proper help). The only country that can help you without expecting or asking for anything in return is India

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Mohammed

Mar 16, 2015 02:48pm

A noble effort. God speed to you! The Citizens Foundation is doing tremendous work with their schools in Pakistan.

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Balram Sharma

Mar 16, 2015 02:57pm

We definitely are willing to help Pakistan....But Is Pakistan also willing to cooperate?

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kartz

Mar 16, 2015 03:02pm

Good initiative Ali Zafar. I am not sure how I can contribute to you from India.

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Akram

Mar 16, 2015 03:04pm

I have already donated a third of my monthly salary to this wonderful cause, For those who love Pakistan, nationalism in words is cheap. Nationalism in actions is where it really counts, kudos to Ali Zafar.

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Common Man

Mar 16, 2015 03:32pm

Its never too late to start in right direction but i guess we are on the verge of now or never!

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Jay Patel

Mar 16, 2015 03:35pm

There are lots of Muslim actors and actresses, directors, producers in India. Such an equal opportunity giving Bollywood !!

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Moosa

Mar 16, 2015 04:06pm

@kartz Brother...there's a TCF link in this news. It'll route u to a page to donate! Thanks!

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Sachin

Mar 16, 2015 04:43pm

@Nisar : This syndrome is so deeply ingrained in Paksitan... the one of conspiracy...Others are responsible for what and where PAkistan is ! The day common Pakistani comes out of it 50% of your problems are solved. May be you need to travel out of Pakistan a bit to understand this. Else it sounds like a sermon from an unwanted source.

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Black Sabbath

Mar 16, 2015 05:12pm

Pakistan is one of the few countries in the world where 43% of the children never go to school in their lifetime & yet the govt is cutting education budget to accomodate military spending. I totally agree with Zafar that education should be the #1 priority.

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saadiq

Mar 16, 2015 06:42pm

@Nisar its nt neighbours mate its ur religion

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Shahid Khan

Mar 16, 2015 08:01pm

Our military and military spending is costing education, quality of education, and basic security for these normal and poor citizens!!

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vinie

Mar 16, 2015 10:20pm

pakistani peoples must come out from home to fight against terorist who killed innovent people..this attacks show the condition of minorities in pakistan,its not about other religion its all about awam of pakistan..they are citizen of pakistan..

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parveez

Mar 16, 2015 10:44pm

I just heard about this just now. Great idea, should advertise in the UK, I am sure a lot of people will donate.

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raju

Mar 16, 2015 10:47pm

your choice determines your destiny. Either education or extremism.

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DR. SHAZIA

Mar 17, 2015 02:19am

Thank you Ali Zafar and dawn.com for bringing positive focus on this noble cause, TCF which is educating Pakistan's young and vulnerable. TCF has been an admirable case study of what exemplary model schools should be about. TCF's incredible success is due to honest, highly principled and morally centered individuals who give it their all for educating thousands of deserving children throughout Pakistan. Many Pakistanis the world over are contributing to TCF and it's excellent administrative accountability and transparency. Its humble origins began when a selfless Pakistan Army General used his own personal savings to start the first TCF school, which has now blossomed into hundreds of schools all over the country.

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rabz

Mar 17, 2015 03:22am

What a great guy!

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Zak

Mar 17, 2015 03:26am

@Black Sabbath you see India, where 63% are out of school. And India is buying expensive arms and Russian probes for fruitless ventures, while the population starves.

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Chacha

Mar 17, 2015 04:23am

It is true that Pakistanis by far want to live in peace and harmony. Help should be extended to these Pakistanis to bring about the change. Unfortunately the Pakistani political and religious establishment, on the one hand are the architects of the problem and on the other benefit generously from the international community who think they are contributing towards eradicating the problem. A civil revolution, rejection of the military's propaganda with regards to India, appreciation of all fellow humans as creations of God are the 3 basic tenents for survival.

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Nobody

Mar 17, 2015 05:42am

Salute to this man.

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atheist

Mar 17, 2015 06:15am

@Nisar I**** He got enlightened after visiting land of great souls likes of Buddha, Rama, Krishna and all

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Dystopia

Mar 17, 2015 06:15am

water is wet

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nation lover

Mar 17, 2015 07:01am

god bless you.!! only education will eradicate all the differences

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Satyameva Jayate

Mar 17, 2015 08:02am

@Nisar - Sir, please share just one terrorist captured or killed in Pakistan who was a citizen from the neighbour on the east. Just two names - in the last ten years.

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khanman

Mar 17, 2015 08:36am

as if we dont know.thanks for reminding

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Mar 17, 2015 09:06am

@Nisar : by neighbor if you mean India then you are wrong as you dont have any proof. Your government and establishments talk about 'hawa hawai' proof only. they dont have any solid proof thats why nothing is materializing. they fool their citizens so that they are not blamed for it and what better could be than making scapegoat out of India. it covers their inabilities and give them an escape route to do nothing

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Omar Khayyam

Mar 17, 2015 09:49am

Most intolerance in the world comes from religious bigots. However, when an entire country endorses this bigotry, it also ends its prospects for development. Just look at the list of developed countries. They are all absolutely secular and largely tolerant. And you know why? Because they need all their people to push their countries on to development, whilst the intolerant ones are busy creating problems among the different religious groups in any country. Even when all the religions have been eliminated, the religious bigots will find new victims among another sect of the same religion. It will go on and on until the country is torn apart. So, return religion to the private sphere of life, and you will be more prosperous and happy. If you really want Pakistan to be a great country, make sure it is greatly tolerant. If you want to be better than India or the US, be tolerant than them and you will get there. There is no short cut to tolerance. It starts with the Constitution and the two-tier citizenry it has created.

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Black Sabbath

Mar 17, 2015 08:11pm

@Zak : Frankly I don't expect any sensible comments from you & let me tell you that my comment was factual & not meant to be condescending towards Pakistanis but I doubt you'll understand that. BTW, In India 93% children go to some school which means only 7% are out of school compared to Pakistan's 43%. Yes India is increasing its defense budget but not at the expense of education spending.

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Bobby

Mar 18, 2015 01:51pm

Pakistan needs your help is what Ali Zafar says. People help those who help themselves. Pakistan needs to ask itself honestly from where and why have the terrorists come. Is it not linked to its obsession with Kashmir and India. Whatever the history, merits and logic, the fact is that boundaries cannot be redrawn in today's day and age. When was the last time anywhere in the world that boundaries were redrawn. Pakistan has harmed itself more than India with its obsession with Kashmir. The day Ali Zafar says that people want a progressive, peaceful, tolerant and positive Pakistan, without bothering about Kashmir and India, is the day that the change will happen.

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