14 August is always a day of celebration, remembrance and national pride. It reminds us that on this day in 1947, Pakistan emerged on the map of the world as an independent sovereign state. Millions of Muslims of the subcontinent had sacrificed their lives, homes, properties and futures for the realization of a dream led by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Today, as Pakistan celebrates its 79th Independence Day, we must certainly celebrate our freedom. But alongside celebration, there is another question that deserves an honest and courageous answer:
Are we truly independent in the real sense of the word?

Independence is not merely the possession of a national flag, a national anthem, a parliament, a constitution or internationally recognized borders.

These are essential symbols and institutions of sovereignty, but real independence means much more. It means that a nation is politically confident, economically strong, institutionally stable, socially united and capable of making decisions according to its own national interests.

Pakistan achieved political independence in 1947. But after 79 years, the question is whether we have been able to achieve economic, institutional and intellectual independence.

A country that remains heavily dependent on borrowing to meet its financial obligations cannot claim complete economic independence. A country that struggles to finance development from its own resources and repeatedly looks towards external assistance cannot be fully economically sovereign. A country whose exports remain far below its potential, whose productive sectors are constrained and whose economy repeatedly faces balance-of-payments crises must seriously examine the foundations of its independence.

Our economic challenge is therefore not simply a question of shortage of money. It is fundamentally a question of productivity, governance, policy continuity and national priorities.

The tragedy is that Pakistan possesses enormous resources. We have fertile agricultural land, rivers, minerals, a large young population, a strategic geographical location and tremendous potential in agriculture, livestock, information technology, tourism and manufacturing. Yet we have not transformed these resources into sustained national prosperity.

The livestock sector alone demonstrates the contradiction. It provides livelihoods to millions of rural families and makes a major contribution to the national economy, yet its potential remains inadequately developed. Agriculture, livestock, fisheries, minerals and other productive sectors require long-term policies, modern technology, research, investment and value addition. Instead, our national debate frequently remains trapped in short-term political and administrative issues.

Political instability has also weakened our journey towards genuine independence.

Governments change, policies change, priorities change and institutions often become vulnerable to political pressures. No country can build a strong economy when every change of government brings uncertainty about development policies, investment decisions and institutional direction.

Political differences are natural in a democracy; political division that damages the national economy is dangerous.

Pakistan urgently needs a national consensus on a few fundamental issues: economic growth, education, health, population management, agricultural modernization, industrial development, exports, energy security, institutional reform and human capital development. These should not become victims of political polarization.

The Quaid-e-Azam did not envision a Pakistan where citizens would merely celebrate independence once a year. He envisioned a country based on justice, equality, rule of law, merit and responsible citizenship.
Therefore, Independence Day should also be a day of self-accountability.

We must ask: Are our institutions functioning according to law and merit? Are our young people receiving the education and skills required for the modern world? Are we providing opportunities to our talented youth? Are our public resources being used efficiently? Are we rewarding competence and honesty? Are we protecting the dignity of the ordinary citizen?

True independence also means freedom from poverty, ignorance, unemployment, corruption, injustice and institutional weakness.

A nation cannot call itself completely independent when a young graduate spends years searching for employment, when a talented student cannot afford quality education, when a farmer struggles to obtain a fair return for his produce, or when ordinary citizens lose confidence in public institutions.

The 79th Independence Day should therefore mark the beginning of a new national conversation: from symbolic independence towards substantive independence.
We need independence from economic dependency.

We need independence from policy inconsistency.
We need independence from institutional interference.
We need independence from corruption and nepotism.

We need independence from political hatred and polarization.
We need independence from the culture of blaming others for every national failure.

And above all, we need independence from the mindset that Pakistan cannot change.
Pakistan can change.

But change will not come through slogans alone. It will come through education, merit, hard work, technological advancement, institutional reform, economic discipline and national unity.
Our greatest national asset is not merely our geography or natural resources. It is our people—particularly our young generation. If we provide them with quality education, professional training, research opportunities and productive employment, Pakistan can transform its demographic challenge into an extraordinary economic opportunity.

The real tribute to the martyrs of Pakistan is therefore not merely to illuminate buildings, raise flags and sing patriotic songs. The real tribute is to build the Pakistan for which they sacrificed their lives.
On this 79th Independence Day, we should celebrate—but we should also reflect.

Pakistan is politically independent. But the journey towards complete national independence is still unfinished.
Let us therefore make this Independence Day a commitment to complete that journey.

Let us build a Pakistan where institutions are stronger than individuals, law is stronger than influence, merit is stronger than connections, and national interest is stronger than political divisions.
Let us build a Pakistan that does not merely survive on the map of the world but stands among the prosperous, respected and self-reliant nations of the world.
This is the Pakistan that Quaid-e-Azam dreamed of.

And perhaps the most meaningful question on our 79th Independence Day is not simply:
“Are we independent?”
It is:
“Have we yet become the Pakistan we became independent to build?”
The answer should not discourage us. It should inspire us.

Pakistan Zindabad.

Dr. Alamdar Hussain Malik
Advisor Academics, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Swat.
Former Financial Adviser, Finance Division, Government of Pakistan