Back in 1899, Sigmund Freud wrote 

The Interpretation of Dreams; the psychoanalyst

theorised that dreams were the key to unlocking the subconscious. A nation’s dreams
too reveal truths about its people, and are closely linked to identity politics. One
definition of the globally recognised ‘American dream’ describes it as a “national
ethos of the United States, the set of ideals achieved through hard work in a society
with few barriers”.

In a country like Pakistan, which is in a perpetual state of identity crisis, the Pakistani
dream is more elusive to imagine, let alone realise. Is there even such a thing as the
‘Pakistani dream’? What are the nation’s collective desires, hopes and goals? Here, a
panel of commentators deliberates.

If you live in Karachi, it depends on which side of the bridge you belong to. If you are
from the Punjab, then south, central or north Punjab matters. And if you are an
Islooite, then the “Sector” you live in is of consequence. So, the Pakistani dream
means different things to different people.

There was a time when anti-US demonstrations were the norm. However, the lines
outside the consulates applying for visas would always outnumber the demonstrators
so that would give you an indication of what the dream is. Conversely, we have so
many Pakistanis with foreign nationalities or residences still living here that you really
have to wonder: “why did you leave if you still want to live here?”

It has been 50 years since the election slogan of Mr Bhutto of “roti, kapra aur
makan” created hope in the bosom of the downtrodden. If you look carefully at the
current promises made by politicians, only “insaf” has been added. This means we are
still wallowing at the bottom of Psychologist Abraham Maslow’s ‘hierarchy of needs’.
So this would be the dream of the masses.

For the upwardly mobile, a foreign education and a ‘good job’ in a multinational
company is what you aspire to; young women want to be fair and hope for suitable
suitors. This jives well with the perception that parents want higher education for their
sons and marriage for their daughters. Those without electricity want generators and
those with generators want free diesel; a security tail is the new status symbol when
you drive around in your four-wheeler, and ‘destination weddings’ are a must if you
have ‘arrived’.

But seriously, though, think about it: we know that corruption is not the biggest threat
this country faces. It is poor governance and home-grown security problems. When
children are not safe in schools, we know it is time to recalibrate.

The Pakistani dream, whatever we perceive it to be, can be achieved if we just fix the
basics.
By Leon Menezes who is a professor at the Institute of Business Administration.

I once had a dream

We have lost the dream, and I think we know it.

Our parents dreamt and fought for freedom, but we have not used that liberty to create
a society that is just and free from prejudice. It is ironic that the country is free but the
people are not; some are in bondage and others are guarded behind high walls.

Like the people, the dreams are splintered into tiny schisms. Some dream of hoors in
heaven, some dream of America and others about their next square meal. But there is
no longer a dream that unifies the people of Pakistan. Greed, bad governance and lack
of interest by the educated elite in the political process have shaped the course of our
dreams. 

My dream for Pakistan is simply to restore human dignity and respect for people
across class and religion. This fundamental respect for other human beings would
allow for peace and a space to build a society that is just, tolerant and progressive. We
cannot wait for a leader to unify us. Each of us has to dream this dream individually
and act upon it in our own spheres.

By Naiza Khan, a visual artist and researcher who works from London and Karachi.
Virtual dreams
How does one define the Pakistani dream? Should it be any different from the
American dream or the Indian or Chinese dream?  I don’t really see why it should.
People around the world want similar things. They want happy, fulfilling and
interesting lives. They want a safe and comfortable environment. They want work
they enjoy and friends and family with whom they can share their precious moments.
We Pakistanis are no different.

It really depends on whose perspective you are looking at. I spend most of my time
with young people who aspire to change the world. They are innovators with passion
for technology. They want the opportunity to prove themselves, to show the world
that we are just as talented as anyone else. They want to build things that have global
appeal, which will gain recognition for them and for Pakistan. Their dream is to turn
Pakistan into a country that the world will look up to.  

What they need to fulfil their dream is an ecosystem that allows them to
flourish. They need government policies that will support the tech sector and its
advancement. This includes free Internet, data protection, privacy legislation and tax
policies that do not hinder their growth.

These young innovators need clean, fast and affordable access to the Internet. They
need investment in their ideas. They need access to a network of people who believe
in them and are willing to connect them with other people who can help turn their
ideas and dreams into reality.

And they need much simpler things – a good public transportation system, road
infrastructure, investment in education – at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels,
along with a supportive healthcare system and top-notch security.

When you look at countries around us, you see a lot of investment in public
entertainment facilities so that people have places to go and things to do that will
refresh their minds, souls and bodies. Young people here dream of a country that
places a focus on all of these things… and there is nothing stopping us from
delivering on these dreams but a lack of vision and resolve.

By Jehan Ara, the president of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA)
and the tech incubator The Nest I/O.

To be free or not to be
Diversity: the Pakistani dream is to see a day where a mosque, a church, a jamaat
khana and a mandir can exist in the same area without fear or conflict. The Pakistani
dream is to see a day where  a person from any ethnic background  has an equal
chance to succeed. To be a doctor, lawyer, successful actor, musician, politician or the
CEO of a major firm — and one day, maybe even the president or prime minister. The
Pakistani dream is to live in a place where our differences are celebrated. Where what
you believe (or claim to believe) makes you no better or worse than anyone else.

To be free, as long as you are not harming anyone else; to be free to marry who you
want, free to go to school if you want, free to put up a stage and play your music, and
let different kinds of people enjoy themselves together. Free to eat what you want,
drink what you want, apply for any kind of educational degree or job, or start your
own initiative. Free to live where you want to, alone if you like. Free to not be
ashamed of being handicapped or mentally challenged, a woman or a man,
transgender or of any sexual orientation. The Pakistani dream is not to be rich or
famous; the Pakistani dream is to be free.

The spirit and yearning for freedom which Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal generated among the
Muslims of the sub-continent was responsible for the establishment of Pakistan. Today, Pakistan
whose dream Allama Muhammad Iqbal dreamed is engulfed by myriad of external and internal
problems. The scourges of extremism, terrorism, extremism and provincialism are eating into the
vitals of our body politic. Pakistan’s honour stands damaged at the international level due to internal
fissures and fires of terrorism. It is the responsibility of the youth and the students that they act to
steer Pakistan to the safe shores from the uncharted waters in which it is stuck today by seeking
guidance from the ‘real leadership’ and thoughts of Iqbal. He said that today’s Pakistan does not
embody the vision of the country Allama Iqbal propagated. Basic human rights are being
undermined today. There is a crisis of leadership with the result that the nation is confused
and suffers from serious lack of confidence. Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri advised students to focus
their undivided attention on their education because it is through knowledge that the
country could join the developed world. The students should make their mark in life in
whatever field they opt to join after completion of their education. He said Pakistan’s lost
glory could only be regained by seeking guidance from the teachings of Allama Iqbal, Quaid-
e-Azam and ‘real leadership’ in the present age.

On August 14 1947, Pakistan an independent sovereign country emerged on the map of

the world, as a result of the dedicated efforts of Muslims of the Indo-Pak Subcontinent.

The establishment of Pakistan is indeed a unique phenomenon of modern history. It can be

argued that Pakistan came into being on the very day when the first native embraced Islam
in the Sub-continent. Yet it was the war of independence of 1857 that set into motion the
intellectual process of thought and philosophies, to safe guard the rights of the Muslim
minority.

The All-India Muslim League first voiced the demand for a Muslim homeland based on India’s
northwestern and northeastern provinces in March 1940. Seven years later at the moment of
British decolonization in the subcontinent, Pakistan emerged on the map of the world, an
anomaly in the international community of nations with its two wings separated by a thousand
miles of Indian territory.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the All-India Muslim League, tried resolving the problem by
claiming in 1940 that Indian Muslims were not a minority but a nation, entitled to the principle of
self-determination. He envisaged a “Pakistan” based on undivided Punjab and Bengal. Since
this left Muslims in the Hindu-majority provinces out of the reckoning, Jinnah left it an open
question whether “Pakistan” and Hindustan would form a confederation covering the whole of
India or make treaty arrangements as two separate sovereign states. In the end Jinnah was
unable to achieve his larger aims and had to settle for a Pakistan based on the Muslim-majority
districts of Punjab and Bengal, something he had rejected out of hand in 1944 and then again in
1946.

Pakistan, a country that is always a crucial part of world affairs. a place that is known for
global Jihad and is the second largest Muslim population. from the day it has been
separated and became an independent country until now there is a lot ups and down
which has it has faced.
Pakistan is a hub of natural resources but require useful utilization of these resources.
besides its greatness it has faced a lot of trouble in these previous years. however, the
current prime minister of Pakistan is thought to eliminate all the bigger issues but again
people of Pakistan are waiting for all these betterment to take place.