Pakistan's
Golden Jubilee
Remarks by David Kilgour,
P.C., M.P., Edmonton Southeast
on the occasion of the Golden
Anniversary of Pakistan
organized by Pakistan Canada
Association of Edmonton
Leefield Community Center,
Edmonton, 17 August 1997
It is an honour to be with
you today to celebrate the
Golden Anniversary of Pakistan.
Fifty years seems little
more than a fleeting moment
for the country which claims
a cultural heritage dating
back more than 5,000 years,
to the epoch of the Indus
civilization.
Yet, half a century in
a history of a new state
is an important milestone,
time to reflect the past
and work towards a better
future. Pakistan is at a
crossroads in the 50th year
of its existence. Despite
indisputable achievements,
the most significant of
which is the restoration
of democracy in a country
where the military has ruled
for 25 of its 50-year history,
the country faces tremendous
challenges.
In 1947, Pakistan inherited
a backward economy almost
completely without an industrial
base. Yet, over the past
five decades, Pakistan managed
an impressive growth rate
averaging 6% (from 1960
to 1990) and has one of
the highest per capita income
($495) among South Asian
nations. Industry and services
sectors are leading the
economy and have taken over
agriculture which in the
past was providing a living
for four-fifths of the population,
and accounting for more
than half of the national
output. Today, agriculture
accounts only for about
a third of the national
output. About 40% of the
population now live in towns
and cities. However, the
country’s economic
growth did not translate
into social development,
mainly because of the high
population growth rate of
about 3%. The country’s
social indicators lag far
behind a number of other
lower income countries in
South Asia, and a majority
of almost 140 million Pakistanis
continue to live in miserable
conditions.
The progress for many citizens
of Pakistan has been slow
and painful ethnic violence
and sectarian conflicts
devastating. The dream and
hope of the country’s
creators appears to elude
Pakistan. Yet, the democratic
spirit which has taken firm
root will continue to grow
and will see the country
fulfill the hope expressed
by Pakistan’s first
Governor General Mohammad
Ali Jinnah in his inaugural
address to Pakistan’s
Constituent Assembly on
August 11, 1947: "If
you will work in cooperation,
forgetting the past, burying
the hatchet, you are bound
to succeed. If you change
your past and work together
... you will find that in
course of time Hindus would
cease to be Hinus and Muslims
would cease to be Muslims,
not in the religious sense
because that is the personal
faith of each individual,
but in the political sense
as citizens of the state."
Professor Kalim Bahadur
of South Asian Studies at
the School of International
Studies, Jewaharlal Nehru
University, New Delhi in
his recent article written
on the occasion of 50 years
of Pakistan entitled, "Promising
future seen as democracy
takes root", states
that although "For
several decades Pakistan’s
military rulers derided
democratic institutions
and systems in the name
of Islam to justify their
own dictatorial regimes
... the last four elections
have shown the peoples’
deep faith in democracy.
This is also reflected in
the increasing freedom of
the press, which has held
its own in spite of attempts
to muzzle it."
Professor Bahadur stresses
that the ethnic violence
and sectarian conflicts
are limited to small segments
of the population and are
largely a legacy of Zia-ul-Haq’s
11 years of Islamization:
"The people at large
have not supported movements
of intolerance and bigotry.
The Pakistani voter has
never, even under duress
as in 1984-85, voted for
fundamentalist groups,"
Professor Bahadur points
out.
The renowned Urdu poet,
Ashfaq Hussain, has well
captured the spirit of the
times when he said: "If
this is a new Dawn/I salute
this new Dawn." It
reflects a new optimism
and a commitment of a new
generation - and most importantly
a changing of the times.
Pakistan’s arduous
journey has not ended yet
and let us al hope that
the Pakistani people continue
to strive for social justice,
human rights and a degree
of prosperity promised to
them 50 years ago.
Diversity
One of the most significant
factors about Pakistan is
the rich diversity of its
many regions and peoples.
The country’s natural
regions embrace a whole
range of ecological variations
and its peoples are a mixture
of many racial types speaking
different languages and
having different cultures.
From the towering snow-capped
mountains of Baluchistan,
to the fertile plains of
Punjab and the sandy Thar
desert, Pakistan exemplifies
diversity - diversity not
only in its geographical
make-up but also ethnically.
Pakistan is a rare ethnic
milieu, where Punjabis, Sindhis, Pathans,
Muhajirs,
and the Baluchi have formed
an exceptional cultural
mosaic.
Diversity is a major asset
of any pluralistic society;
it is now one of our strongest
assets. In a global village
and in a transnational market
economy, the multicultural
heritage of Canada can help
us greatly in international
trade. Canadians from many
cultures have contributed
to the building of Canada
and will continue to do
so. The synergy created
by a range of cultures and
languages should be maintained,
not melted away as in a
melting pot, to meet the
next century.
Multiculturalism in essence
is about respect for human
dignity. Knowing that the
traditions of everyone including
ones’ own, are to be
respected and cherished;
and that is a nation that
accords dignity to all should
be of reassurance to all.
Diversity is a Canadian
reality and a major asset
for Canadians, both at home
and around the world.
Ethnicity in Canada is
not a transitional phenomenon
which eventually results
in assimilation of the various
ethnic groups. In this country,
the heritage of all Canadians
is an integral and enduring
feature of our national
identity.
The diverse nature of our
land and our people is expressed
in many ways. Our unique
national character gives
us - and our institutions
- a chance to draw on a
vibrant array of energies,
abilities, knowledge and
points of view. These then
lead to innovative approaches
to helping Canada respond
to challenges, both on the
home front, and in the international
arena.
As Canadians we share much
more than just a common
geography, history and catalogue
of rights and responsibilities.
We share the Canadian identity
which is a product of richness
and diversity - a society
that includes:
- A belief in equality
and fairness;
- A belief in consultation
and peaceful dialogue;
- A respect for diversity;
- A recognition of the
importance of accommodation
and tolerance; and
- A spirit of generosity
and compassion.
Canadian Beginnings
Although some Pakistanis
came to Canada as early
as the eighteenth century,
it was not until 1951 that
they came in any significant
numbers; during Pakistan’s
tumultuous decades 1946-73
some 10,000 Pakistanis immigrated
to Canada with the determination
to survive and prosper.
According to the 1991 census
there were some 35,680 Canadians
of origin in Pakistan, and
more than 4,000 in Alberta.
Canadians of Pakistani
origin are an important
and vibrant part of the
Canadian fabric, as are
all other communities. You
have contributed significantly
to the cultural, political
and economic sphere of Canadian
life. Just by your presence
and your adherence to your
traditions, you add to our
multicultural society, but
you go far beyond that.
Canadians of Pakistani origin
are represented in all areas
of our economy from education,
medicine, and manufacturing.
You are constantly ranking
in the top of the success
charts.
Canadians of Pakistani
origin are an important
and vibrant part of the
Canadian fabric, as are
all other cultural communities.
You have contributed significantly
to the cultural, political
and economic sphere of Canadian
life.
Just by your presence and
your adherence to your traditions,
you add to our multicultural
society, but you go far
beyond that. Pakistanis
are represented in all areas
of our economy, from education,
medicine, and manufacturing.
Pakistanis are constantly
ranking in the top of the
success charts.
Cultural heterogeneity
constitutes a vital part
of what it means to be a
Canadian. It is also vitally
important for us to emphasize
what we share as Canadians
if we are to achieve the
goals of enhanced harmony
and economic prosperity
for all Canadians regardless
of national origin, religion,
or cultural heritage. All
people must be treated with
dignity in part because
the combination of all cultures
strengthens the soul of
Canada and enriches the
citizenship of each and
every Canadian citizen.
In short, Canadians of
origin in Pakistan have
come from a country of numerous
remarkable accomplishments.
Let us, however, keep in
mind that you have come
to a country of great challenges
and opportunities for anyone
looking for these values
in life.
The words of the journalist
Ejaz Haider of The
Friday Times, Lahore,
about social changes Pakistan
has been going through,
capture well the challenge
and hope that political
and religious leaders and
democracy and reform-minded
Pakistanis have to face
before the country enjoys
political maturity and stability
and a degree of economic
prosperity: "Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif, a
product of Zia’s martial
law, has finally exorcised
the ghost and emerged as
a genuine political leader
at the head of the strongest
political party in Pakistan.
Politically, the country
is slowly recovering from
the legacy of the past two
decades, but the social
ills begotten of that period
still haunt Pakistani society."
On Independence Day, August
14, millions of Pakistani
citizens and those in diaspora
worldwide will pause from
the daily routines to celebrate
the country’s 50th
Anniversary. The images
of joyous celebrations will
be beamed to our homes via
TV and the media; among
them the elegant shape of Minar-e-Pakistan, a monument
built to commemorate the
Pakistan Resolution adopted
by the Muslim League in
1940 to form a separate
state of Pakistan.
The spirit and the message
embodied in this monument
is what we all celebrate
today: Long Live Independent
Pakistan!
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