As Pakistan has faced recurring challenges over time, the country has often overlooked its unsung heroes who have become its saviors. Such heroes have ranged from the martyrs on the battlefield to those in daily life, whose sacrifices helped Pakistan meet its challenges.
In recent years, Pakistan’s successful emergence from the dreadful Covid epidemic became possible in no small measure to the sacrifices of the numerous health workers on the frontlines of the battle. Some who gave their lives after exposure to the mightiest strain from Covid were instantly replaced by others for the treatment of a constant flow of patients.
In this journey, the lead taken by the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad’s ‘Chak Shehzad’ neighbourhood must be remembered for its valuable contribution to serve Pakistan at a moment of crisis.
Originally built in the 1960s as the National Health Laboratories or NHL, its journey towards becoming the NIH has been made possible with the tireless contributions of its founding fathers and, in time, their successors.
But before the groundbreaking of this essential project for healthcare in Pakistan, its journey began successfully in no small measure to the contribution of ‘Baba Gulab’, who is tragically forgotten today. Known widely as the most respected elderly person from the area known as ‘Chak Shehzad’, Baba Gulab stepped forward to block the locals from agitating against the NHL project, as officials scrambled to acquire a piece of land.
The protests against government officials ranged from stick-bearing villagers threatening to forcibly block the NHL project to the unleashing of vicious dogs upon them. Eventually, peace returned for the federal government to begin its work, but only after the elderly Baba Gulab persuaded the agitating villagers to retreat and allow a project of national significance to proceed.
Although lacking knowledge of science and insight into Pakistan's needs over six decades later, Baba Gulab’s resolve was based on a simple principle: to support the establishment of a healthcare facility to serve the people of his country in the future.
The story of Baba Gulab serves to illustrate the unending legacy of Pakistan’s unsung heroes, who ensured its survival over time. Since its very inception in 1947, Pakistan has withstood heavy odds despite its imperfections. At its birth, Pakistan was considered by sceptics as a country that could not survive for more than a few months.
The first line of Muslims who migrated from a united India to the newly created state of Pakistan, arrived in a country with virtually no resources. They were met with terrible shortages, such as newly inducted civil servants being forced to use empty cartons to substitute for office furniture. The shortages were so severe that civil servants were forced to use thorns picked from bushes instead of paperclips to stitch official paperwork together.
Almost eight decades later and following a number of crises over time, Pakistan’s survival to this day appears to be an impressive miracle. This outcome, however, was made possible primarily with the resolve of some of Pakistan’s most committed citizens.
In a memorable event later this month (October 8) marking the 20th anniversary of the 2005 massive earthquake, there will be another milestone to reflect upon one of Pakistan’s worst natural and humanitarian disasters. Though the country was struck a massive blow, Pakistanis across the board rose to tackle its consequences.
The outpouring of sympathy for the victims left behind after at least 70,000 people died in that terrible tragedy spoke volumes about the country’s rich resolve in the face of adversity. Within a few hours of the earthquake, roads leading into Azad Kashmir were badly choked as ordinary citizens rushed to the mountainous region to help the victims.
For those who finally reached Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, the outcome of that ordeal was visible, scattered all around. Some of the main roads in the city were bordered with corpses lying on the side-walks, while rescue workers dug through the debris of collapsed buildings, in search of survivors. For months afterward, the outpouring of public support for the victims was widely felt all around.
As Pakistan faces yet another battle for its survival following the recent flash floods and torrential rainfall, its past ordeals present a significant opportunity for overcoming future challenges. In this journey, Pakistan’s past must serve to present precious lessons.
In brief, this journey must recognise Pakistan’s many unsung heroes who rose to meet new, increasingly formidable challenges. Their legacy helped Pakistan face tremendous odds. In the past 25 years, since the aftermath of the New York terrorist attacks of 2000, Pakistan has struggled against militancy in areas along the Afghan border, where many Pakistanis have lost their lives, only to be instantly followed by others.
In this journey, the cause undertaken by the sons and daughters of Pakistan must be cherished and promoted as a sacred national duty.
The writer is an Islamabad-based journalist who writes on political and economic affairs. He can be reached at: farhanbokharigmail.com