THE USUAL DEBATE
Most of us are familiar with the usual drawing room discussion at a Pakistani household (in Pakistan as well as Overseas). These discussions usually conclude in the following manner:
- The dream of Allama Iqbal, the Herculean efforts of Sir Syed, and the clarity of vision of the Quaid-e-Azam, have been squandered away by the below-average leadership which is blinded by the glamour of power and easy money. Who will rise to the occasion to save the country?
- The crisis of our society is demonstrated in continuing deterioration of law and order, rising sectarianism, extra-judicial killings, materialistic values, etc. We need a leader who should pursue a ruthless agenda. But alas, one does not see even one leader in Pakistan who has the virtues which are required to get Pakistan out of this mess!

The main reason behind this crisis is that no effort has been made to identify and highlight the role models of Pakistan- Pakistanis who have earned international acclaim for their work in various fields par excellence. This forgetfulness has caused us to surrender to the intellectual supremacy of other nations.

Let us join hands in promoting our heroes. Highlighting the lives and works of Dr. Abdus Salam (Nobel Prize Laureate), Ahmad Shah (Patras) Bokhari, Abdur Rehman Chughtai, Sahibzada Yaqub Khan, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Jahangir Khan, Hakim Saeed, Shakir Ali, etc is the need of the hour. This can serve as the impetus for building national spirit through inspiration; the same way Einstein’s work inspired the Germans, Leonardo da vinci’s work made thousands of Italians follow his footsteps, Shakespeare’s work helped create British scholars.