Pakistan's 79th: time to live, not just survive

The Express Tribune published an opinion piece on Pakistan's 79th Independence Day, arguing that the country must move from enduring hardship to improving everyday life. The writer notes that Pakistan was founded through a civilian political movement and asks whether citizens have learnt to live in the country. Recent macroeconomic recovery and a measure of political stability are necessary, the column says, but they are not enough on their own.

The column lays out four practical steps, covering local government, remittances, civic habits and justice. It says only Rs1.8 trillion of the Rs9.2 trillion that provinces received in federal transfers for FY2026 was expected to reach local bodies, citing the Economic Policy & Business Development assessment. Remittances topped $41.6 billion last fiscal year, yet most flow to Punjab, Kashmir and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, while Sindh and Balochistan receive far less, and the writer argues this reflects policy choices rather than destiny.

On civic life, the column names schools as the natural starting point for good habits, and on justice it argues that the law should apply with reasonable consistency. The writer concludes that Pakistan needs to stop postponing ordinary life rather than adopt another grand plan. The piece contains no company names or market figures.