- Every Pakistani remember this day with full zeal and fervour
Interview with Dr Asia Saif Alvi — a dynamic young political analyst
[box type=”shadow” align=”” class=”” width=””]Profile:
Dr Asia Saif Alvi is a dynamic young political analyst from Lahore. After finishing her school and college education, she went to Islamabad for Masters from Quaid-e-Azam University. After doing her Masters, she joined a local college in Lahore for teaching. Simultaneously, she got admission to Government College University Lahore for her MPhil in the political science department.
Meanwhile, she quit her college job and started working at the Virtual University of Pakistan in 2009. After doing her MPhil, she enrolled in the PhD program at Punjab University. While doing her PhD, she worked as a Lecturer in the UET Taxila for one year in 2012 and then moved to Lahore College of Women University. After six months, she got selected as an assistant professor in the Department of Politics and IR at the University of Sargodha in 2013. At the University of Sargodha, she has attended more than a dozen National and International conferences.
The University of Sargodha, where she is currently serving, sent her to China in 2017 for a teaching diploma. She has written more than a dozen research articles in Pakistan’s renowned journals. She is HEC approved supervisor in the field of Social Sciences. Currently, she is the Head of the Department as well.[/box]
PAKISTAN & GULF ECONOMIST had an exclusive conversation with Dr Asia Saif Alvi about PAKISTAN DAY. Excerpts of the conversation are as follows:
Just like every year, this year too on 23rd March, 2022, Pakistan Day will be celebrated with all its festivities. However, just like every year, the day of March 23rd, should bring along deep remorse and guilt. You see, celebration must occur after accomplishments. Celebrating Pakistan day depicts our untiring endeavours to make our beloved country Pakistan great. Have we done anything worth celebrating in this regard? Here is an example; after seventy-four years of independence, we are not even nearly honest as a nation.
According to 2021 ‘Corruption Perception Index’ (CPI) of Transparency International, Pakistan ranks 140th out of 180 countries. Yes, days, such as the one under-discussion, bear great significance in the history of Pakistan, and must be remembered and revered. However, whether to celebrate the day or not, provided our nation’s current contributions towards Pakistan, is debatable.
Pakistan Day holds great significance in the history of our nation and hence is celebrated on March 23, every year, countrywide. Events like Pakistan Day are essential to remind us that despite being citizens of a country which bears a potpourri of ethnicities and cultures, we are one as nation. Not only does it have sentimental and patriotic values, Pakistan Day also holds great political significance. The countrywide celebration of Pakistan Day is a reminder to the enemies of ‘the land of spiritually pure and clean’ that we shall fight for it till the last drop of our blood, as one single nation.
Muslim leaders played a crucial role in the formation of Pakistan. From Sir Syed Ahmad Khan to Allama Iqbal, every Muslim leader was well aware of the fact that there lived mainly two distinct nations in the subcontinent, namely Hindus and Muslims. I think the most important service of Muslim leaders in this regard was eliminating the very deception from the society that Hindus and Muslims could live in peaceful coexistence. They created an essential awareness among Muslims that Hindus were their socio-economic and politico-religious competitors and not well-wishers.
The 19th century witnessed many political movements such as The Women’s Suffrage Movement, Civil rights Movement, and Pakistan Movement. These movements put a strong political conscience in their participants as well as in general public. Pakistan Movement was adopted in 1940 and put a strong political impact in the world of politics. This resolution is distinct from others due to the reason that it provided a skeleton of a separate homeland as well as a plan of action to achieve it. Moreover its unique significance was that it was accepted by all the participants of the Muslim League. It signifies a rare phenomenon as no known resolution has ever achieved a unanimous acceptance by its participants. For these reasons it is apt to say that Pakistan Resolution is the outcome of one of the most powerful movements in the world of politics.
There is, no doubt, that there exists a strong attachment between Pakistan and her people. Likewise, although, several Pakistanis live abroad today, their love for the homeland is no lesser than the ones who live here. This fact is well displayed in last year’s ceremony which took place in Turkey where Pakistan’s Ambassador, Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi raised the Pakistan flag to the tune of the national anthem in the presence of the embassy officials and media. There he reminded the people of the intense struggle the Muslims of South Asia went through for a separate homeland. Similarly, Pakistan Day was celebrated in several other countries as well including Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Pakistan Embassy to UN and in China. Pakistan Day which is observed with usual enthusiasm and fervour at various embassies all over the world and Pakistani diaspora participate in myriads of activities representing a strong love for their homeland.