By Prof. Dr. Taimoor ul Hassan
The image of the “Train to Pakistan” evokes memories of the greatest human migration in recorded history, an exodus marked by both hope and horror. In August 1947, millions boarded trains in search of a homeland promised to be democratic, tolerant, and progressive.
The dream was grounded in the Pakistan Resolution of 1940, which envisioned autonomous regions and civil rights for all citizens, irrespective of religion, caste, or creed. It was further defined by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s address to the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947, where he declared, “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques… you may belong to any religion or caste or creed—that has nothing to do with the business of the State.” These words encapsulated the hopes of freedom, a state where faith was personal, governance was impartial, and citizenship was equal for all.
The demand for Pakistan was not born overnight. It was the product of political marginalisation, economic inequities, and deep mistrust between communities in colonial India. The Muslim League, under Jinnah’s leadership, argued that Muslims constituted a distinct nation with unique political, cultural, and religious identities that needed constitutional safeguards. The Pakistan Resolution clearly underscored “that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority… should be grouped to constitute independent states” and that these units must enjoy full autonomy. The justification lay in the inability of pre Partition politics to provide adequate representation or protection for Muslim interests within a unitary Indian framework. The British failure to reconcile these demands made partition inevitable. The moral argument was anchored in self determination, a principle now enshrined in the UN Charter.
The first years after independence reflected both resilience and fragility. Refugees arriving on trains, bullock carts, and on foot rebuilt their lives with grit. Institutions such as the State Bank, universities, armed forces, and a foreign service were established from scratch, enabling Pakistan to quickly position itself in global diplomacy. The slogans of “Unity, Faith, and Discipline” were not mere rhetoric but a survival code for a nascent state facing refugee crises, war in Kashmir, and economic strain. The hopes of freedom were alive in the collective will to rebuild.
However, political instability soon eroded these early gains. The dismissal of governments, weak party structures, and repeated military interventions undermined the democratic promise. The spirit of Jinnah’s August 11 vision was often overshadowed by sectarian, ethnic, and authoritarian politics. We failed when constitutionalism became a casualty of expedience. The Constitutions of 1956, 1962, and finally 1973 each reflected political bargains, but frequent abrogations and suspensions by military rulers damaged public trust in democracy. The “Unity” Jinnah called for often fractured into regional alienation, from the loss of East Pakistan in 1971 to today’s tensions in Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan.
Civil rights, explicitly promised in the 1940 Resolution and implied in Quaid’s speeches, were curtailed under emergency laws and selective interpretations of religion in politics. Women, who were at the forefront of the Pakistan Movement — from Fatima Jinnah to countless unnamed activists found themselves sidelined in many policy spaces. Education and health, pillars for national development, suffered chronic underfunding. Public spending has hovered around 2 percent of GDP on education and even less on health, far below global benchmarks. STEM fields, critical for competing in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, were neglected, and brain drain deprived Pakistan of its best talent.
Yet, the journey is not without milestones. Pakistan has sustained one of the world’s most resilient diasporas, remitting billions annually. Its agricultural base feeds over 240 million people and supports export sectors like textiles. Our scientists and engineers placed Pakistan on the nuclear map, not as an aggressor but as a deterrent force. Women like Malala Yousafzai have carried the flag of education to the world stage, while our youth excel in emerging fields like freelancing and tech startups. Democracy, though battered, has shown resilience, with peaceful transfers of power in 2008, 2013, and 2018, despite deep political polarisation.
If we are to fulfil the hopes of freedom today, we must board a new train — one that carries the nation toward constitutional stability, economic strength, and social equity. Constitutionalism must remain above all else. The Constitution of 1973, with its 18th Amendment ensuring provincial autonomy, should be the bedrock of governance. The civil rights promised in 1940 and reinforced in August 1947 must be enforced without discrimination. A truly independent judiciary, an impartial election commission, and a transparent legislature are non-negotiable.
We must empower youth, especially women, who make up the majority of the population. Nearly 64 percent of Pakistanis are under 30, and their participation in politics, the economy, and STEM must be ensured through affirmative action, scholarships, and startup funding. This is not just gender fairness but a strategic necessity for survival in a competitive global economy.
Education, health, and STEM require urgent investment. Pakistan must raise education spending to at least 5 percent of GDP within the next five years, with a parallel boost in health budgets. Universities should be incubators of innovation, linking research directly to industry needs. STEM education must start early and be supported by digital infrastructure in every district.
Our industries and agriculture must also be revitalised. Pakistan’s textile sector, agro-processing, IT services, and renewable energy industries can form the backbone of a diversified economy. Agriculture must be modernised with precision farming, efficient water management, and export-oriented policies to compete in a climate-threatened era.
Finally, Pakistan must renew its commitment to global peace. Our foreign policy should reflect Jinnah’s principle of “friendship with all, malice towards none.” In an age of multipolar power shifts, Pakistan can serve as a bridge between the Muslim world, South Asia, and emerging economies in Africa and Latin America.
The first “Train to Pakistan” was crowded with passengers carrying meagre belongings and abundant hope. Today’s metaphorical train must carry the lessons of our history, the discipline to uphold justice, and the resolve to place constitutionalism at the heart of governance. As we celebrate another Independence Day, the pledge before us is clear: to honour the vision of 1940, the promise of August 11, 1947, and the principles of Unity, Faith, and Discipline, not as slogans of the past but as working principles for the future. The hopes of freedom can only be fulfilled if we choose to build a Pakistan worthy of the sacrifices made in 1947 — the whistle has blown, the tracks are laid, and it is time to board the second train to Pakistan.
Note: The writer is a senior academic, researcher, and journalist with extensive experience in media policy, communication education, and political analysis. He has served as Dean of Mass Communication at leading universities, authored books and scholarly articles, and frequently writes on governance, constitutionalism, and socio-political reforms in Pakistan.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article/Opinion/Comment are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk (DND). Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk.
