Many a causes dissuaded us in the past, as a nation and community that our vision and presence has been reduced to oblivion. With the recent status quo and string of crises in Pakistan, everyone should ask the question to oneself; what did one miss and do to have brought us all at the ebb; missed to do the duty and did minimal to salvage the cause which lays bare for others to devour.

Should we suggest and assume this is it for Pakistan? And we return to the warm folds of our blankets and tuck away into deep slumber, yet again? Are we as a community aware enough as to what back up plan and responsive measures should be taken? Probably not, but Pakistan is to stay, only history is to stack its people far away to be remembered . But the question is not survival, but survival of the fittest. And what have we contributed this far? Just growing bank balances and remittances. That’s it? End of story? Don’t we ever feel responsible to the green document? Have we ever thought how can we make ourselves more respectable that whenever we present the green document to the immigration, we don’t get the looks of sarcasm? But alas, our basic grass root development has never been paid attention to unlike other nations. Chinese are Chinese outside their boundaries, Indians are Indians, Afghans are Afghans, Iranis are Iranis but we their immediate neighbours are Punjabis, Kashmiris, Sindhis, Baluchis and Pathans. What went wrong in the middle?

However, much water has passed under the bridges, but still we as a nation and community have something to do. Good news. Good is hope always. Even if Noah’s ark is full of holes and smaller than Titanic, hope is a beacon always, which would salvage our sinking ship.
It was the hope of Britons who won self respect in 1628.

Surrounded by the plethora of crises, bundled with unreformed due ignorance, disparity and clearly no vision. Yes, one thing that is clear is the face that we are trudging along without a vision and goal. Middle class sector is clinging onto pennies and so does our community.
Only thing that remains back is the good hope. Hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. But first we need to map and measure the distance and then chalk out the strategy.

Firstly, we need to gather our youth. Youth have potential. Period. Under the umbrella, youth can be provided some options for a get together. For example, deciding for each week where to gather; favorites could be gaming and cinema going but in a group. Dining out in a group can be influential not to mention opportunities to network and head hunt for better career and academic prospects. More of the options could be decided but youth have to charged and attracted and brought to a sense of responsibility. Never had youth been developed, mentally and physically. Decisions have to be put in place and soon.

Now to the elders who come in the upper bracket in decision making, which altogether goes missing till date. A weekly gathering need to be summoned for them to have a serious discourse on areas where they could share and contribute. Many areas lie unattended.
To gain back the trust and the bond, some bitter pills need to be taken.
This requires a comprehensive discussion and hard core decision which might not come easy.
Contribution is highly advised in the areas where Pakistanis in and around UAE are in need of support; be it job consolidation, which of course, is primary in this region.
However, one area which could really lift the course and consolidate our vision as a Pakistani is to launch educational initiative whereby the under educated would be provided the opportunity to achieve what was the basic right.
The elders can play an active but positive role in this. Be it a word they have to share, but not trade secrets, but they should come forward and at least one person should be sponsored by one family in the emirates. This would have a multiplying effect and an example which is not experimented before. Bond of hope can be reformed here.

All of the above is possible and bring about the much desired and dreamt change at our levels and our community if hope is kept alive as a weapon.
Its not the clouds that make rain, it’s the hope of rain which keeps the eyes shining and waiting in the hot deserts.

Time was never so right for Pakistan to regroup and re-energise our national priorities. We can make it to the end of the tunnel, but together. A watermelon in pieces is consumed by one and many. A whole one would be a challenge for an elephant as well.
Hope breeds unity, unity ushers sacrifice, sacrifice sows freedom.
Let us, as a rich and responsible community, begin to feel selfless, just for once. And once for all.

In the classical times people were well aware of their nature and responsibilities. They were kind to their fellowmen, shed love to their sibling and relatives; also they respected their elderly parents with love and care, seeing that they spend their prime years looking after them. Present day, when we look inside ourselves, where do we stand in our own eyes?

In earlier times, hearts were filled with love and care for each other, their personalities were strong, and had the strength in their soul for helping their inhabitants, elderly parents were respected in the best manner by their offspring, decisions were made not without elder's advice.

They preferred living as a joint family where the elderly parents not only provide guidance on the bases of their experience but also take the responsibility of looking after the grandchildren, especially when both husband and wife are working.

Humanity was present in every spirit, however at the present time; people are scared to look within themselves since they do not want to know how terrible they have turned out to be, and how dead their soul has become. Instead of keeping fear of God in their hearts, they are afraid of worldly matters.

The breakdown of the joint family system and the changing cultural norms and traditions has resulted in elderly parents being abandoned or mistreated by their offspring.

They are not only alone and lack emotional support but often face economic hardships as well. Some were forced to take shelter in homes for the destitute, surviving on charity and being looked after by strangers, despite the fact that the children could afford to look after them. Many of them live miserable and lonely lives in old people's homes, waiting for their children to pay them a visit on Eid or other especial occasions. People who abandon their parents are not only being unjust but are also depriving their children of the grandparents' love and attention.

In an age and time when all sorts of rights are being highlighted, denying parents their right is the worst form of injustice. Our religion, too, emphasizes that parents should be given respect and taken care of.

Though no one would want things to get to such a state, however, we must look in our collars and find the blood of our forefathers, and lead our adolescence the way we lived under our elderly parents' guidance.

Like all the kids of my generation my mother wanted me to be a doctor, but our dreams were shattered when I was orphaned in 1995 due to a car accident at the age of 7.

With no money, no guidance, support, love and protection of the parents, I never had the normal pleasures of childhood. I was always gloomy, sad, without friends and worried and fearful about the next day. I never had the experience of carefree, playful childhood, like other children of my age. In spite of my desperate and helpless situation my unflinching faith on ALLAH was always a source of strength.

At the age of 15, financial constrains made me stop my studies, but still there was something that gave me the strength to continue. I started as a promoter. In the morning I was attending the school and in the evening I was busy in the promotion, When other girls were enjoying the attention and love of their parents I used to be busy in the struggle for survival.

Due to our financial condition my dream of becoming a doctor was killed, instead I opted to join the course in commerce, to complete my O level. With my faith on ALLAH,I started working harder, to achieve my dreams, but sometimes my other engagements forced me to miss the classes.. My teachers understanding my situation gave me a lot of support. Due to the circumstances, it was difficult for me to devote the required time and efforts to my studies, but only through sheer determination and help of ALLAH I always succeeded in getting reasonably good grades in my exams.

ALLAHMDULLILAH, being a girl I was reasonably successful in my efforts. I feel pity for students, whose parents spend tremendous time and money to give them a good standard of living and they in return don’t prove themselves worthy of their sacrifices..

At the age of 18 I finished my schooling (O’ levels), and had to start work to support myself and return the favor to the people who had been supporting me during my hard days. .

I was for the first time very disappointed and depressed when I was forced to join a small IT company as a receptionist. Another fact that depressed me was the loss of my friends of school who proceeded to the colleges for further studies leaving me behind. I learned a hard lesson that no body and time does not wait for anyone, and this realization made me cry for the first time.

One night I cried and prayed to ALLAH with all sincerity, the next day somebody asked me to apply for a job . I got that job which was a big jump of my career from the salary of AED 1,500 PM to AED 3,000 PM. Today I have my Car, Credit Card, Laptop and enough means to satisfy my meager needs.

This experience had strengthened my belief on the benevolence of Almighty, hard and honest work and patience. Now I have learnt be content, happy and hopeful instead of unsure, impatient and fearful of life.