Human evolution spans over six million years, with Homo sapiens emerging just 50,000 years ago — a mere blink in Earth's 14 billion-year history. From primitive hunter-gatherers with limited cognitive abilities, humans evolved into complex intellectual societies, developing languages and advanced civilisations rooted in philosophy, art, science and technology.

The first human settlements emerged around 14,000 BC in Mesopotamia, while the urbanised Indus Valley Civilisation began in present-day Pakistan about 3,300 BC. Human evolution began with collective identity and governance; it has now reached a pinnacle of honourable coexistence in the metropolis of the modern state. Now, humanity aspires to reach the distant planet Mars.

Dignity, the foundation of civilised societies, ensures that individuals feel respected, valued and important, both in their own eyes and in the eyes of others. Yet, Pakistan's history offers a stark lesson in what happens when this principle is neglected.

From Homer's poetic ideals to Aristotle's societal principles and Cicero's assertions of human worth, dignity has long been a focal point of civilisation. The Qur'an declares: "We have conferred dignity on the children of Adam" (Q. 17:70) and "Of all creation, humans are deemed worthy of honor because they alone chose to accept the trust of free will" (Q. 33:72). These verses underscore that dignity is not granted by one human to another; it is an inherent right bestowed upon all.

The Enlightenment era aligned the role of dignity with governance. Kant rooted it in merit, moral integrity and universal humanity - the idea later enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, which outlined 30 articles of fundamental rights........

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