Pakistan recently celebrated its 78th Independence Day, marking nearly eight decades since its inception. This period is comparable to the lifespan of an average human being—enough time to experience birth, growth, maturity, and decline. Similarly, Pakistan’s history has been a mix of triumphs and failures, joys and sorrows. Yet, as the nation commemorates its freedom, a critical question arises: How independent is Pakistan truly?
Pakistan and India gained independence from British colonial rule on the same day, yet they celebrate it on different dates—Pakistan on August 14 and India on August 15 (as it was a midnight of 14-15th August, 1947). This discrepancy in commemoration is just one example of how historical narratives have been manipulated on both sides.
Initially, the two nations were conceived under the guise of religious identity—India as a secular Hindu-majority state and Pakistan as an Islamic republic. Over the decades, India successfully marketed itself as a secular democracy, while Pakistan, influenced by geopolitical shifts like the Soviet-Afghan War, leaned toward religious extremism. Ironically, recent trends show a reversal: Pakistan is gradually moving toward secularism, while India is witnessing a rise in religious nationalism. Despite these shifts, both nations now face growing extremism, challenging their foundational principles.
Independence, in its purest form, means the ability of a nation to make sovereign decisions without external coercion. A truly free country prioritizes its own agenda without succumbing to pressure or blackmail. By this definition, can Pakistan—or even India—claim genuine independence?
The reality is far from ideal. Both nations remain entangled in neo-colonial influences, whether through economic dependency, foreign policy constraints, or cultural imperialism. The illusion of freedom persists, but the structural chains of external control remain intact.
Modern Pakistan has transformed into a consumer society, increasingly reliant on foreign imports—from toothpaste to fast food. Local businesses struggle to survive against multinational corporations and mega-marts like’Imtiaz‘ and Metro. Meanwhile, agricultural land is rapidly disappearing as property developers convert fertile soil into concrete jungles. The government, despite its authority, fails to enforce policies protecting arable land, highlighting a lack of true sovereignty in decision-making.
This so-called “development” comes at a cost. While modernization brings technological advancements, it also disrupts traditional lifestyles, leading to cultural erosion and social unrest. Rural communities, unprepared for rapid change, face identity crises and rising violence. Is this the independence our founders envisioned?
As Pakistan celebrates another Independence Day, it is crucial to reflect on whether the nation is truly free or merely exchanging one form of subjugation for another. The original goal of independence was self-determination—yet today, economic dependency, cultural imperialism, and political compromises suggest otherwise.
If Pakistan continues to prioritize foreign investment and modernization at the expense of self-reliance and cultural integrity, it risks replacing colonial rule with a subtler, yet equally oppressive, yoke. The challenge now is not just to celebrate independence but to reclaim it in its truest sense—by fostering genuine sovereignty, sustainable development, and a national identity rooted in autonomy rather than illusion.
Only then can Pakistan move beyond the illusion of freedom and embrace its reality.
