Peace vital for prosperity

When will peace most needed for common man’s economic well-being and social harmony return to our motherland? That’s the question citizens ask one another at Juma congregations.
They also pray for success of efforts being made by administration and soldiers for the country’s survival with dignity and honour in the wake of internal and external challenges which impact everybody’s daily life.
“Let’s pray for peace which is necessary to achieve progress and prosperity and make Pakistan a safe and stable state,” one of elders drew attention of participants of ‘Quran khwani’ arranged by a serving medical officer to mark the completion of his single-story house in a housing scheme in Rawalpindi last Friday. Retired public servants, teachers, civil and military officers at the function looked like members of a united Pakistani family.
Just ponder over some of the points raised in discussion. Why shouldn’t we keep in mind as many verses of the Quran as we can do easily: don’t these verses truly pertain to our 21st century daily life; why should we not remember some of the speeches and messages of the founder of Pakistan; and why shouldn’t we unite against exploiters who fleece food consumers, who do not provide free healthcare to the poor and free education to children of the lower class parents?
Why so many children are subjected to forced labour? Is it just because they’re poor, their parents cannot afford to send them to school, tuition fees are high, very high? And only sons and daughters of important persons, VIPs and VVIPs have the right to higher education.
How much relevant is one of the speeches of Mohammad Ali Jinnah wherein he said to Pakistani students: “Freedom, however, does not mean licence: it doesn’t mean that you can now behave just as you please and do what you like, irrespective of the interest of other people of the state.”
The Quid-i-Azam told them a great responsibility rested on them, and on the country; more than ever, it was necessary for us to work as a united and disciplined nation; and what’s required of all of us was constructive spirit.
The question is: Do we have that constructive spirit, unity and discipline? If we develop that spirit as early as possible, we will surmount all social and economic problems -- and prices of food, petrol and other essential items will come down. And eventually, peace and prosperity will prevail.
zasarwar@hotmail.com