From outside the country, Pakistan looks like a horrible place to be in; its a country marred with religious extremism, uneducated uncivilized people, highest level of corruption, dishonest politicians (or may be if I just write politician that would deliver the message), a heaven for terrorists, poorly administered or not administered at all, shaky governments, empty minded opposition parties, worst traffic in the world, dirty and dusty, a poor country with a lack of national identity let alone national unity. Yes, that’s the picture (may be even worst) that you get of Pakistan while you are not here and know it from a distance or even if from inside, know it little.
I am not going to deny all this, because with a sane mind and a true heart, I simply can’t reject such overwhelming facts about Pakistan. In fact, if I am to write on my country, I wouldn’t take a paragraph to describe its flawed characteristics, I would go on writing pages after pages.
But here, I would rather flip the picture for a while.
I have known this person for more than 17 years now; he is not rich at all, not even much educated as he hardly completed school. He has worked as a postman all his life and after retirement is still working on his own. He has never taken more than what was his right, he has never held back what wasn’t his, he has always given way when others are in hurry and always stands in patience while the man in front slows down, he always meets with a smile and departs with a prayer, he always says thank you for even a smile and hurries on to an apology if he causes even an unintentional discomfort, he listens with a all his time and gives advice with all his heart, his worst disapproval is his silence and he extends generous praise for every little effort, he brought up his children with fair money and gave them the confidence and knowledge to know and do noble deeds, his hands are all rugged and hard and his legs are all stiff due to long bicycle rides and long walks to his work but he doesn’t complain, he remembers God five times a day and never forgets his family, relatives, friends and even the people he hardly knows, he is humble when he talks, logical when argues, noble when decides and honest when he deals.
I can write pages after pages about this part of Pakistan I know. He is a real person in this real world; a living proof that life, the world and this place called Pakistan isn’t only filled with dishonest people; there is this soul of Pakistan that is still alive, breathing and at work. It never will quit.
I personally know people who call Pakistanis stupid and I’ve never really argued with them; but when I look at that postman, I absolutely disagree with them.
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