More than 15 years ago, if anybody was asked what comes to mind when they hear the word Pakistan, it would've been, 'cricket champions', 'immense culture', 'beautiful mountains and lakes' or even, 'the only Muslim state with a female leader'. There was hope.
Now, in 2010, when you ask the same question all you hear is, 'terrorism', 'corruption', 'incompetent government' and 'bomb blasts'.
What does it say about a country where a majority of the people are choosing to leave it, where you have to feel like you should be watching your back constantly, where it has become so rare to hear a single positive thing from anybody outside it?
The history of Pakistan is a tapestry of struggles. From the violent partition from India to create an independent state for Muslims, to yet another war in 1972, to the military rulings. It is surprising to note that despite this country being a democracy, decade after decade; it has had incompetency in the government, highly corrupt politicians and failed policies. If the people vote for the leaders, then why is it necessary for the military to step in every few decades just to save the country in time from the brink of anarchy? This has happened 3 times in the history of Pakistan. (1958-1971, 1977-1988, and 1999-2008) What does this trend say about the people of Pakistan? Is it possible that during each election, all they are seeking for is simply the lesser of two evils?
The current President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari can easily be dubbed as one of the worst President in the history of Pakistan. Since he came into power in 2008, not only has there been a great increase in the incidents of suicide bombings and violence, but the Islamic militants and terrorists that usually stayed in the North near the border of Afghanistan are permeating into the major cities. Karachi is not Karachi anymore; the beautiful coastal city has now become an outlet for chaos and killings. Pakistan’s economy is slowly getting closer to bankruptcy with the current debt being over 60 billion US dollars. However, if there were any Pakistanis still in denial over the incompetency of the current government, they were slapped in the face with the reality in the aftermath of the 2010 floods.
The floods in Pakistan are seen as the worst natural disaster to ever hit the country. It has been scaled even more devastating than the 2004 Tsunami. 20 million people have been affected and at least 6 million left homeless. Millions are in dire and urgent need of clean water, food, and shelter. There are constant appeals being made for donations and foreign aid. But how can Pakistanis expect charity from anywhere else when the charity has not even started at home? The Pakistani government’s pitiable and disgusting response to this disaster has created expected hesitation among donors and governments of other countries. What reason could there possibly be to give money to a government that is notorious for misusing its own money and putting its personal and selfish needs over that of its people?
As Pakistan’s beautiful land, it’s crops, it’s fields, are rapidly submerging in water and its people are drowning, dying, and losing what little assets they had, its President remains overseas in what can only be described as a luxury vacation rather than an ‘important tour’ as he has tried to call it.
While it is completely under stable for Pakistanis to ask for foreign aid in a time of crisis, it is also not suspiring that most will not come through. With the image of Pakistan in complete shambles on the world stage and every Pakistani dubbed as a ‘terrorist’, whether it is silently behind our backs or with fingers pointed at us, it is not surprising at all why most governments would either flat out refuse, or be very hesitant in helping. Not only that, but donations made personally by people are also slow because the only thing people see happening in Pakistan is either the restriction of the freedom of speech, flag burning, religious and racial intolerance, or people dying of suicide bombs. As Newsweek magazine has put it, “The most dangerous nation in the world is not Iraq; it’s Pakistan”
Since the inauguration of the current government in Pakistan, more Pakistanis have become united against Zardari as they slowly realize the roots of their problems. It is appalling that such a man, who does not have a formal education, and is a criminal, is in office. It really says something about the state of the country. It is laughable that any competency and honesty can be expected by a man who has spent time in jail on charges of corruption and murder. And what is even funnier is the fact that his past is not a secret, but a well known fact by every Pakistani; which makes him either the Luckiest Man Alive, or the Most Corrupt Man Alive if he is able to become a democratically elected President. I’d go with the latter.
Pakistanis who live outside Pakistan have also caught onto to the reality bandwagon of the state of Pakistan. It is heartbreaking to watch the news or read the papers whenever there is a mention of Pakistan because it is always negative. The desire to help Pakistan in any way grows stronger but it is almost always taken over by the actuality of reasons. The sad reality is that is has become almost normal and expected to be stepped for questioning at airports just for being Pakistani. And it is talked about in a matter of fact way why you took longer than everybody else to board the plane.
It is a complete shot in the dark when I write that I hope one day more people would want to visit Pakistan’s beautiful mountains, its lakes, its fields, the culture and the heritage buildings. I hope one day Pakistan has a government that is stable and is rid of corruption. And I hope one day, the words ‘Pakistani’ and ‘terrorist’ are not synonymous.
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I have created a page with information and where you can also donate if you scroll the the bottom of it.
https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/PakistanFloods