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Dr. Syed Mehboob
Senior Research Editor, The News Lark
Political and economic analyst
Pakistan is the gift and blessing of Almighty Allah. It is our destiny, our beloved homeland, our identity, our fort, cradle of our hopes and dreams. It is the only country after Riyasat e Madina which is created in the name of Allah Almighty. The nation is celebrating its 79th Independence Day on 14th August 2026. We bow our heads in gratitude to Almighty Allah that we have a land of our own, an independent state, the only nuclear power among 57 Muslim countries.
Pakistan played a very important role in the peace and stability of Muslim countries. Once, leaders of the freedom movements in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria used to travel on Pakistani passports. The United Arab Emirates’ first, second, third, and fourth Air Chiefs were Pakistanis. Pakistanis pilots were the first one who shot down Israeli fighter planes. Pakistani pilots Wing Commander Bilal and Squadron Leader Osman are the first in the world to shoot down Rafale fighter planes. Over 79 years, Pakistan achieved major milestones in nuclear capability, science, sports, and military strength. Despite early economic hardships, the nation built a resilient state from scratch.It achieved the status of a nuclear state in May 1998. Dr. Abdul Qadir was the key figure who made this possible, and the nation is grateful to him and salutes him. Dr. Abdul Salam won the Noble Prize in Physics in 1979. In 1990 it launched its first scientific expedition to Antarctica. On October 13, 2025, Pakistani soldiers won a gold medal in the Cambrian Patrol in Wales UK. Pakistan has frequently won gold medals at the event, including notable wins in 2017, 2018, and again in 2025 and 2026. In 2014, Pakistan cadet Shaheer Ullah Khan won distinction at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, by gaining three awards on the basis of his outstanding performance. Pakistani Army cadet Sardar Arsam Abbas was named the best cadet at Australia’s Royal Military College. Cadet Talha got a sword of honour at Sandhurst. Nine-year-old Haris Manzoor did O-Level and made a record. Dr. Amjad Saqib’s Akhuwat model was studied at Harvard University and the UN, and he was nominated for the Nobel Prize. Dr Amjad Saqib introduced non-interest-based microfinance, a unique example in modern history. Dr Abdul Basit, founder of Indu Hospital, contributed great for humanity. Haji Hanif Tayyab is the founder of Al Mustafa Welfare Society. Pakistan’s Jamia Binouria Aalimya provides quality contemporary and religious education to students from 54 countries. Bait us Salam provides O and A level quality education with the best religious education free of cost to hundreds of students. 80% of the best religious institutes are in Pakistan. Ghazali Tech is the first Islamic Technology University in the world, a proud project of Jamia Tur Rasheed. Jamia tul Mohsanat is one of the best Islamic and contemporary education institutes for girls. Jamia e Drul uloom Karachi, Al Bayan Institute and University are other examples of rendering valuable services for Pakistan.
Pakistan won the 1992 Cricket World Cup under the captaincy of Imran Khan. Jehangir Khan won the World Open title six times and the British Open title ten times, and he was the greatest sportsman Pakistan has ever produced. From 1981 to 1985, he was totally unbeaten and won 555 consecutive matches. His name was placed in the Guinness World Records.
Dr Abdul Basit has been nominated by Stanford University among the world’s top 2% of scientists. Pakistan International Airlines ( PIA) played a pioneering role in supporting and establishing several major Asian airlines during its early decades. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed was the first Muslim woman Prime Minister. The construction of the Karakoram Highway linked Pakistan and China across treacherous mountain ranges.
The last 79 years have had challenges, rewards, accomplishments, and exciting moments. For a developing country, born out of the democratic struggle of Muslims of the subcontinent, Pakistan faced enormous challenges at its birth, including dismal development, illiteracy, structural inadequacies, and institutional bottlenecks, which were compounded by one of the largest refugee crises and migratory movements in history. Being denied its due share in the post-partition resources and pushed into the first Kashmir war, our founding fathers exhibited exemplary courage to overcome these daunting challenges. Seventy-nine years later, we owe our homeland and freedom to the indomitable resolve and untiring efforts of our forefathers.During the last 79 years, Pakistan has emerged as a thriving nation, earning a respectable place among nations. Our foreign policy is guided by the lofty principles of the father of the country, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah; he stated, “Our foreign policy is one of friendliness and goodwill towards all the nations of the world.”From the very start, Pakistan has been actively engaged with Muslim countries, holding the second summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Lahore in 1974. Pakistan is an ardent supporter of multilateralism, respecting U.N. principles, leading various initiatives, as well as being one of the largest troop contributors to the U.N. peacekeeping missions.Pakistan has always supported causes, especially the right to self-determination. Our proactive role in the decolonization process is still remembered and highly appreciated by African nations. We have hosted more than 3 million Afghan refugees for over four decades. Similar humanitarian assistance was also provided to other nations during their crisis. Our efforts for regional peace, stability and security have led us to a significant milestone in achieving nuclear deterrence.Pakistan today is an amalgam of tradition, culture, history, modernization, dynamism and pragmatism. Those visiting Pakistan have always been mesmerized by its diverse and breathtaking landscape as well as thousands of years old heritage in the form of the Indus Valley Civilization. Our country offers a colorful bouquet of various cuisines, cultures, fashions, seasons, religions, and languages. Whether it is sports or academics, art or science, Pakistanis have made a mark, winning prestigious international awards, including the Nobel Prize. Our high-quality products, including textiles, agriculture, surgical and engineering goods, are exported worldwide. Our qualified professionals continue to make us proud both within and outside Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Journey in 79 Years is nothing short of an epic tale, a saga of courage, dreams, and relentless determination. From the historic moment of independence in 1947 to the bustling cities and breathtaking landscapes of today, Pakistan has grown, stumbled, and soared in ways few could have imagined. It is a land of ancient civilizations, where the ruins of Mohenjo-daro whisper stories of millennia past, where towering peaks kiss the skies in Gilgit-Baltistan, and where modern highways now connect vibrant megacities with remote valleys. This is not just the history of a nation — it’s a living, breathing story of its people, their triumphs, their struggles, and their unshakable spirit, culminating in a Pakistan that stands proudly in 2026 as both a guardian of tradition and a hub of new opportunities.
The idea of a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent took shape in the early 20th century, championed by Allama Iqbal and politically realized under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. On 14 August 1947, after decades of struggle and the partition of British India, Pakistan emerged as the world’s first country created in the name of Islam.The journey since independence has been marked by political transformations, wars with India, constitutional changes, economic ups and downs, and periods of both democracy and military rule. From the challenges of accommodating millions of refugees in 1947 to achieving nuclear capability in 1998, Pakistan’s story has been one of resilience.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is more than just roads and ports; it has transformed small towns. For example, the once-remote town of Havelian in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa now hosts a modern dry port, enabling farmers to export fresh produce directly to China. Residents who once relied on donkey carts now see container trucks passing daily.( Continued)
