Green and white

Two lessons echo in classrooms nationwide: the symbolism of the Pakistani flag’s colors and the imperative of respecting minorities. The green embodies the Muslim majority, while the white signifies peace and inclusivity, symbolising the rightful place of minorities. Though this ideal is ingrained in our collective conscience, it remains a theory seldom realised. Instead of celebrating diversity, troubling trends overshadow this symbolic white.

The current treatment of minorities starkly contradicts Quaid-e-Azam’s vision, where every citizen, irrespective of faith, was promised equal rights. This highlights a systemic failure to protect the vulnerable, tarnishing the sanctity of justice and fostering an atmosphere of fear and exclusion. The symbolic white of Pakistan’s flag, now marred by fear and injustice, calls for restoration. Legal reforms to curb the misuse of certain laws are imperative, alongside education that fosters tolerance, harmony, respect and empathy. Mechanisms to safeguard religous and ethnic minorities must also be reinforced with sincerity.

Sameet Fatima

Islamabad