Countries inhabited by heterogeneous racial and linguistic groups and divided by natural geographical boundaries (mountains and rivers); generally, develop centrifugal tendencies among their cultural groups. Pakistan, incidentally, is placed in the similar position. We should not exaggerate the danger posed by these differences, on the one hand, and should not shut our eyes to the possible threat they may cause to our existence, on the other. If these tendencies are allowed to grow and flourish without restraint. In order to form a strong and coherent nation we must be aware of the presence of the disintegrating forces and shall prepare ourselves to counter them wisely. Total elimination of differences in a human society is neither possible nor desirable. In order to make a coherent and integrated society we have to create a culture of tolerance; a culture in which people are educated to live amicably, notwithstanding the differences they have. In a democratic society human differences are not crushed with the brutal state authority, but resolved through dialogue, compromise and mutual understanding.
Following are the major obstacles interposed in the way of national integration in Pakistan:
i. Provincialism and parochialism.
ii. Linguistic differences and laxity in the implementation of the national language Urdu.
iii. Racial and group differences.
iv. Poverty, inequitable distribution of wealth, difference between the living standards of the people of different areas of the country.
v. Long periods of undemocratic rule, which creates discontentment among the deprived classes of the people.
vi. Autocratic behavior of bureaucracy, especially because the bureaucracy is looked at by the people as the representative of some special classes and areas of the country.
vii. Feudal system.
viii. Illiteracy.
ix. Ignorance of the religious and moral values.
x. Negative role of the media.
xi. War culture.
Remedial Measures, My, Your and Our Role
The measures needed to be taken in order to promote national integration and strengthen national unity can be classified into three broad categories:
i. Educational and opinion forming.
ii. Administrative.
iii. Political.
In the following lines we shall discuss each one of these separately:
EDUCATIONAL AND OPINION FARMING MASURES
i. Spreading Religious Education: This was the religions sentiment of the people of South East Asia that served as a driving force behind the creation of Pakistan. Pakistan was achieved only because the Muslims of this region wanted to model their lives according to the tenets of Islam. Keeping the religious consideration supreme, they forgot all the differences of language, race, culture and geography that divided them. Problems of national integration that we face, are only due to the reason that we have forgotten the lesson of fraternity and brotherhood our religion has taught us.
- '. . . . And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so by His Grace, ye became brethren. (Surah al-imran, Ayat:103)
To remind the people of Pakistan this forgotten lesson of unity and brotherhood, true spirit of Islamic fraternity needs to be revived. This can be done by infusing in them the true understanding of Islam through enlightened Islamic education.
ii. Revival of the National Spirit Based on Two Nation Theory: Two Nation Theory was a practical programme for enabling the Muslims of South East Asia to model their lives on Islamic ideals, in private and public affairs. Pakistan, in other words, was created with the sole objective of safeguarding the spiritual identity as well as the physical existence of the Muslims in this area. We must make our countrymen realize that our existence is directly related with the existence of Pakistan, if Pakistan lives, we live, we have no existence independent of our national existence.
iii. Promotion of Islamic Culture and Tradition: Individual and collective lives of the people of Pakistan bear a deep imprint of Islam to whatever region, racial or linguistic group they may belong. Local customs and traditions, side by side, with the racial, parochial and cast differences are also common. These are the remnants of the uncivilized local traditions. These things divide people, create bitterness in their feelings, and sow the seeds of discord among them. This situation can be remedied by promoting Islamic cultural values.
iv. Application of Media for Nation Building: Media, print as well as electronic can play an important role in the promotion of a national outlook and in dispelling the negative sentiments of parochialism and regionalism. Radio and television programmes need to be useful and purpose directed. They should serve the cause of educating the people about Pakistan Ideology, they should inform the people about the objectives of our freedom struggle, they should infuse in them love for Pakistan and tell them what spiritual, economic and moral benefits our freedom has brought to us.
v. Promotion of Urdu: People in different areas of Pakistan speak different languages. All these languages are written in the same script. All Pakistani languages contain valuable treasure of prose, poetry and religious. literature. But our regional languages are spoken and understood in limited areas of the country. Only Urdu is the lingua franca i.e., the language that can serve as a medium of communication between different areas of the country. Urdu is not the language of a particular region; this is our common national heritage. During the days of our freedom struggle Urdu emerged as a strong symbol of our national identity. Muslims from all parts of India, rendered sacrifices for the defense of Urdu, although for most of them Urdu was a second language; it was not their mother tongue. For the promotion of national cohesion and identity Urdu should be adopted as the medium of instruction at all levels as well as the language of the official business.
Administrative measures
i. Administration with Responsible and Patriotic outlook: Federal administration is a national institute, under federal civil services officers belonging to one province are posted in other provinces. If these officers perform their duties with a real sense of service and consider themselves to be the servants of the people and not their masters or rulers, there will be no reason for the people of any province to complain that they were being subjected to alien rule. This is also necessary that all the provinces are given their due share in civil and military services. If this is not done certain parts of the country will suffer a sense of deprivation.
ii. Restructuring of the Provinces: Our country comprises of four provinces. These provinces have, somewhat, different cultural linguistic and ethnic characteristics. Such differences are common in all countries of the world; (for example India, our closest neighbor is hundred times more heterogeneous than we are). But unfortunately due to the conspiracies of the unpatriotic elements these differences have become a challenge for national integration. Such groups have emerged in all the four provinces of Pakistan, there are people who speak in terms of narrow parochial nationalism instead of a wider Pakistani nationalism. They take pride in calling them Punjabis, Sindhis, Pakhtoons and Balochis and not Pakistanis. If these disruptive tendencies are allowed to have a freehand they may become a real challenge for our national integrity. In order to prevent the people form thinking that the provinces can form independently administered or sovereign units we must plan restructuring the boundaries of our provinces. This will definitely mean carving out more provinces out of the already existing four provinces. New provinces will be demarcated as administrative units and not as cultural, linguistic or ethnic entitles.
POLITICAL MEASURES
The issue of provincial autonomy has always caused great problems for our constitution makers and legislatures. This problem gave birth to many of the grave crises of our constitutional and political history and caused hindrances in constitution making. Existence of minor conflicts between the demands of national integration and the claims of provincial autonomy is natural to exist. In order to resolve this conflict, following proposals can be taken into consideration:
i. Bi-Cameral Legislature/Powerful Upper House: A bicameral legislature was established for the first time under the 1973 Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The upper house was named Senate. Lower house or the National Assembly, is the popularly elected house and represents the people of Pakistan. The upper house, Senate, is the house of Provinces. All the four provinces, big or small, have been given equal representation in the Senate. This is a step which has been taken in right direction. This is a step of utmost importance necessary to dispel the sense of deprivation that our small provinces have. Now the bigger provinces are not in a position to override or overrule the opinion of the smaller provinces, merely by virtue of their numerical strength. It is necessary to keep up with these new constitutional securities.
ii. Division of Powers: In the federal forms of government powers are divided between the federal and the provincial government. For a strong federal system, separation of power between the central government and the federating units is an essential requirement. Provincial governments should be given adequate powers, this creates a sense of self- confidence in the people, and the centre should be given only such powers as are indispensable to keep the nation integrated. Our 1973 Constitution provides adequate safeguards for provincial autonomy. All the four provinces expressed satisfaction regarding these safeguards. The only thing now required is the implementation of the constitutional clauses in letter and spirit.
iii. Democratic System of Government: Democratic system creates a sense of responsibility and participation in the people. They start to love their country and live for it. Dictatorship, on the contrary, creates a sense of deprivation among the people; people get alienated from the national and collective affairs. They develop enmity not only towards the rulers but also towards the provinces or the class to which the rulers belong. Their dislike for the rulers may turn into hatred for the country. In this way, national integration is jeopardized. To prevent this state of affairs form happening we should try to establish a democratic system based on the principles of Islamic ideology.
