I love my country. Do you?

Who loves their country Pakistan, the most — the residents or the expats?

Saadia Qamar November 13, 2011
This is a question that’s debated quite often these days, by both, people who have lived in this country and those who are of Pakistani origin but live overseas. Often, seen in the drawing rooms as the tea trolley moves around, the argument grows to be a heated one but the million dollar question remains, “Who loves their country Pakistan, the most — the residents or the expats?”

Come to think of it, each group has a role to play inside Pakistan or outside of it. And we don’t need to love Pakistan and be patriotic because we listen to Dil Dil Pakistan, it is something that grows within each one of us, from our days as children. And this applies to Pakistanis who live in Pakistan or those who live in foreign lands.

Even those who live overseas show their love for their homeland by sending back money, which helps its economy, or they invest their incomes in the land of origin. Many overseas Pakistanis also give sizeable donations to charities in Pakistan funding quality and proven initiatives such as The Citizens Foundation or Edhi. And when they do this, it shows that there are people who love this country dearly, despite its flaws and its scars.

Charity no doubt begins at home. How charitable are you in person, to anybody who is in want of alms is a question few will raise their hands to answer in public, but yes, one needs to see that thy neighbour does not go hungry at night. Too many ideals, but who follows philosophical lectures.

A nation needs the sincere love of its citizens to be liberated from the clutches of foreign dictates. Feeding one poor person, on any given day will for sure, not make you a beggar, but it will feed a Pakistani, someone who is your compatriot and less fortunate than you, who nonetheless deserves a warm meal.

We can show the love for our country by involving ourselves in such activities which seek to help those less fortunate than us.
WRITTEN BY:
Saadia Qamar
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (16)

Ahmad Hammad | 12 years ago | Reply Well, I not only LOVE my country emotionally, but also believe in rendering the feelings into deeds. Whatever I do in my life, it is for achieving a better Pakistan. That is why I don't like Imran Khan, who's a stooge in the Establishment's hands. We all should work for Pakistan....
Ather Sultan | 12 years ago | Reply As much as I will like to say that we are free, independent and sovereign state and people, the fact of the matter is that we are not. The sooner we realize it, the better. I will not blame the US or any other so-called super-power for all of our problems and ills. We must develop the guts and the grit ‘to call spade a spade’ and look deep down into our own hearts, souls and minds before blaming anybody else. If the US is attacking our land and people in the name of the so-called ‘war on terror’ it is only because of our feeble and weak leadership. If the US is doing what it wants in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, nobody else but we as a nation and its so-called ’servant leadership’ is to be blamed. We must understand that the US and all other countries work only for their ‘own vested interest’ in the guise of ‘national interest’ and as long as we don’t do the same, we will not be able to become a real ‘free and independent state’ Nevertheless, I can still see some light at the end of the tunnel. Pakistani people, by which I mean ordinary Pakistanis like you and me, are hard-working, patriotic, understanding, intelligent and pretty smart people. If we can be successful overseas, why not in our own land? It is these people of the land of the pure that I consider as the greatest asset of Pakistan and come what may, they will keep on trying to make their ‘each tomorrow’ better than today.
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