As we celebrate 79th Independence Day of Pakistan, it is appropriate that we take stock of what Pakistan was, what it went through in recent decades and what we can hope for in the future. It came into being on 14th of August 1947. This was the period when the World War II had just recently ended and many nations from Japan in the East to Germany in the West were rebuilding themselves from the ravages of war, which besides taking numerous human lives, was also a major setback to their economies. 79 years in a nation’s history is not long, but long enough to set the direction right. Pakistan emerged on the world map right after the world war ended. The two globally emerging alliances then were the capitalist and the communist. Siding with the capitalists, Pakistan was invited to join the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) of 1954 and Central Treat Organization of 1955 (CENTO) created to block communist expansion, and to secure strategic regions in which Pakistan played a meaningful role.

Located in South Asia with an area of over 800,000 km and with a coastline of 1100 km, Pakistan is labelled as the fifth largest country having a population of over 250 million with 60% youth under the age of 30 years. It is blessed with both human and natural resources which include available fertile lands having water networks and a comprehensive irrigation system which provide agriculture sector with the basic ingredients needed. Additionally, coal & gas reserves, copper fields, salt ranges, gold, gypsum, chromite, iron ore, and different varieties of rare earth from its extensive mineral deposits wait for it to be developed. Consequently, it has well established industrial base for textiles, cement, fertilizer, steel, automotive, sugar,........

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