Pakistan was the dream of Quaid-i-Azam and many other great leaders. Despite numerous difficulties, they succeeded in making their dreams a reality.

However, today we are witnessing the deterioration of our beautiful nation. Corruption, bribery and dishonesty, all of which Quaid-i-Azam regarded as the greatest curses, are the root causes of this decline. We often find it easy to point out flaws or failures in our leaders, managers or officials, without reflecting on our own roles or contributions to the situation.

We may overlook our own shortcomings and obligations while holding others accountable for the challenges we face. To usher in positive change, we must first change ourselves and our ideals.

Corruption: Corruption is a major obstacle to our country’s growth and prosperity. Money laundering and bribery are widespread due to the lack of the rule of law, making it relatively easy to obtain unlawful funds.

To ensure that our national exchequer is not plundered and emptied, corruption must be eliminated from every system and sphere of life in Pakistan.

Education: The rate of literacy in Pakistan is very low. Without even basic education, how can we expect our people to lead and thrive? Awareness can be spread by organising educational programmes nationwide, led by experts in relevant fields.

Health: A healthy nation is a prosperous one. Our health is significantly influenced by the food we consume. The government should prioritise regulating food quality and hygiene, especially at street food stalls, which often serve unhealthy and contaminated food. Consuming such food can lead to various diseases and reduced productivity.

Therefore, we must be cautious about our food choices and sources. A healthy population is a valuable asset for any nation.

Environmental preservation: We must recognise the importance of preserving our environment, which is threatened by pollution from human activities and climate change. Pollution can harm essential natural resources such as air, water and soil, as well as biodiversity and ecosystems. It can also exacerbate the impacts of climate change, leading to extreme weather events and other threats to our lives and livelihoods.

To mitigate these risks, we should take action to reduce our environmental footprint and adopt sustainable practices. This includes using public transportation, renewable energy, recycling and reusing waste, and promoting afforestation.

Food waste reduction: We must avoid food waste at all costs. It is a global issue and prevalent among the affluent section of society. Despite being an agricultural nation, we face food insecurity and import food due to wastage.

To address this problem, the agriculture sector needs improvement to increase yields. Additionally, fines and penalties should be imposed on weddings and restaurants to discourage wastage.

Adopting technology: The industrial and agricultural sectors in particular, must embrace technology. Despite our agricultural potential, we have lagged behind due to outdated methods. We must modernise these sectors to increase crop yields, and meet domestic and international demands.

It is important that we prioritise these key points. Failing to do so risks damaging our international reputation and jeopardising the homeland that Quaid-i-Azam got for us with so much effort.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 16th, 2023