August 14 is a memorable day and a milestone in the history of Pakistan. This was the day Muslims of the subcontinent were finally liberated from the ruthless reign and endless injustice they had faced at the hands of the British and Hindus.

Hence, the independence we have in Pakistan is a privilege for us. The biggest thing we have gained from this is our freedom; the freedom to be able to practise our religion.

Before the Partition, giving azaan (call to prayer) was prohibited [sic], and Muslims had to face prejudice. Even education and jobs were hardly given to Muslims whereas Hindus and British enjoyed top positions.

Today, in our own country, we should all have equal rights; we should avail opportunities with ease; and we should be able to practise what we believe in.

We should be able to live a life of comfort and contentment but, sadly, this is not happening here. There should be justice, education and health facilities for all. No one should be superior to another. Our religion teaches us the same.

There should be no VIP culture and discrimination among people. Our leader, Quaid-i-Azam, had the same dream. We need to fulfill that dream. Pakistan has given us more than we can really think of, and our historical leaders made immense sacrifices to realise Pakistan. Now it is our turn to do something for our country and I want to make an effort to make it a better place.

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Crime rate in Pakistan has been quite high, with corruption, stealing, kidnapping on the rise. This saddens me, and I wish to restore the justice and peace in my country.

Pakistan has so much potential as it is endowed with magnificent landscapes, rich minerals and natural resources. It can easily become one of the most developed countries in the world. But our political leadership is corrupt and their priorities aren’t right. If things like coalmines, oil fields, and tourism, etc, are developed properly, the economy of Pakistan will improve greatly.

I think the best thing about Pakistan is that when a big disaster hits us, we all become united and no one can break this unity. At the same time, Pakistan has drawbacks.

Education is a facility unknown to the poor, which further increases poverty. There are no health facilities for the ones who can’t afford them. The most terrible evil we are facing these days is terrorism. There is so much instability that there have been attacks on schools, such as the Peshawar attack in 2015, one of the most heart breaking disasters witnessed in Pakistan. It will have a huge impact on our minds forever. We need to forget all our differences, fight this evil, get united on one platform and protect our country.

There may be problems in Pakistan but I am still a proud Pakistani. I love my country, I know its potential, and I know that if we all unite together, we can face any problem and make our country a better place.