National Integration and Social Cohesion (Talking Points)
By: Dr.Ikram Azam (‘ndc’)
Hony. Chairperson
The PFI-MVs
Islamabad
The critical missing link in this topic is: National Security and Defence. National Security, National Integration and Social Cohesion are innately interactive, interlinked; and interdependent, integrally. As such, they are simply inseparable. Therefore, they essentiate as ever Enlightened, Modern-Futuristic, Islami – Pakistani, Integrative Holistic Perspective, in their panoramic ambience and Moral – Spiritual inspirational sweep.
- Introduction:
The critical missing link in this topic is: National Security and Defence. National Security, National Integration and Social Cohesion are innately interactive, interlinked; and interdependent, integrally. As such, they are simply inseparable. Therefore, they essentiate as ever Enlightened, Modern-Futuristic, Islami – Pakistani, Integrative Holistic Perspective, in their panoramic ambience and Moral – Spiritual inspirational sweep.
- Succinct Analysis:
- Life, itself, is continuous cyclical-spiral, evolutionary – revolutionary, peacefully transformational, or tragi – traumatic Change.
- National Security and Integration as well as Social Change are a forceful factor of Life Change: both as Geosociologic Change in Social/Societal Change and Political Economy – Change: Geopolitics, Geoeconomics and Geostrategy.
- Therefore, their related issues are not a one–time targeted and finished end-product. In fact, National Security and Integration, as also Social Cohesion are a manifestation of Life’s Continuous Change as a Perpetual Process of Growth and Development, Reform and Transformation. They are also subject to the challenging strains of decay and decadence, senescence, disease and death by Entropy ---remediable through Regentropy: Reneweal, Revival and Renaissance, Revision and Reinterpretation, Action and Implementation.
- All of these three main subjects centralise the Three International Cultural Codes, as indigenized or nationalized, i.e., the Behaviour Code, Language Code and Dress Code. These are localized in the concerned People’s Social: Moral-Spiritual Values System, Behaviour Pattern and Traditional Life Ways and Customs. Also, their National Culture comprising Classical Culture, Folk Culture and Sufi Culture. Language Literature, and Architecture are the rich tributaries of mainstream Culture and Civilization.
- Pakistan being a fabulous expression of life’s plentiful variety, is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual society. This righteously rich heritage is Pakistan’s strength and forte. It needs to be sustained and developed, continuously. Especially multilingualism, including Modern English as EIIL --- an International Instrumental Language and Means-Medium of Communication: trade and commerce, diplomacy, science, technology and Education.
- Because of its Complex Multiplicity, Pakistan is, Politically, a Federating Democracy. The Federating Principle must be recognised and respected fully, and its Quintessential Spirit Sponsored and Patronized. The Federation should be strengthened: enabled and empowered effectively as a throbbingly Living Reality.
- History begins to be falsified by the power elite as well as popular vested interests, even in its making. Its recording, writing, revisiting, review, revision and re-writing only alienate it from its own original context and core. The true Value of History lies in its Wisdom –– Learning Lessons from it. Otherwise it gets reduced to a mere story, or a fictionalised tale far removed its factual reality.
- Pakistan has learned no lessons from its chequered history. That is why its keeps repeating itself recurrently, with disastrous results.
- Most crucially, Pakistan should seek wisdom from the East Pakistan tragedy of December 1971.
- All said and done, National Security – cum-Defence and Integration, as also Social Cohesion are Geo-Sociological Issues involving history, sociology, psychology, national conduct and character, and National Culture and Civilization. Above all, the Political Economy of a Well-integrated State-Social System and its Collective Leadership: political, civil, bureaucratic and military. Also the Judiciary, For Pakistan to be well-integrated, its key National Institutions ought to be functionally and cooperatively fine-tune and refined as well – integrated. Good Governance is the primary prerequisite and principles pillar of National Integration and Social Cohesion… Integrate Holistic Economic Development
3. Conclusion:
Pakistan’s Future lies in its children and youth of both the genders. Its People are tenaciously resilient. That is the secret of its successfully sustained survival. This treasure trove and gold-mineral mine of the Human Resource can the best be developed by Education As Enlightenment: “Irfan”. This most critically essentiates that 10% of Pakistan’s GDP be devoted to Education, annually, in order to make Basic Education For All, Free and Compulsory, and to fund, Higher Education, fully.The following Political Economy targets are suggested for prioritization:
- FPAEP: Futuristic Poverty Alleviation, Elimination and Prevention --- under.
- AEWE: Altruistic Ethical Welfare Economics.
- Full Employment: 100%.
- Minimum Wages: Rs. 1,000/- per day.
- Sovereign Strategic Self-Reliance: SSSR.
- Islami Democracy.
- True Justice --- focusing Equality --- not just token Equity.
Finally, Pakistan must choose to persistently practise, and thereby to role model and exemply Islam As The Perennial Peace Paradigm and Muhammadi Moral. That is the best manner in which Pakistan can project its own image, positively, as well as that of Islam.
Pakistan: Zindabad – Paindabad – Tabindabad – Abadabad!
Dr.Ikram Azam (‘ndc’)
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