On August 14, Pakistan marked its 79th Independence Day. The occasion, as always, brought with it the familiar sights and sounds of patriotism: flags on rooftops and vehicles, illuminated buildings, national songs, ceremonies and speeches invoking the sacrifices of the Pakistan Movement. All of these have their place. A nation must remember the struggle through which it came into being.  Pakistan was created in 1947 through an extraordinary political struggle led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and supported by millions who believed that a new state could provide security, dignity and opportunity. Independence was not merely freedom from colonial rule. It carried the promise of building a society in which citizens could live with justice, equality and self-respect. Pakistan has survived wars, political upheavals, economic crises, terrorism, natural disasters and repeated periods of institutional instability. Its people have demonstrated remarkable resilience. The real measure of independence is not the number of flags we display on August 14. It is whether an ordinary citizen can live without fear of injustice, whether a child can receive a quality education regardless of family income, whether merit can prevail over connections, and whether the law can protect the weak as effectively as it restrains the powerful. These are not abstract ideals. They are the substance of national freedom. A country cannot become truly strong when its citizens lose faith in its institutions. Parliament, the judiciary, the civil service, the police and other public institutions derive their legitimacy from serving the people rather than from the power they exercise over them. Institutional stability, constitutionalism and accountability are therefore not obstacles to national progress; they are its foundations. The economy presents another test of independence. A sovereign country must possess the capacity to provide productive employment, attract investment, develop human capital and compete in the world. Pakistan needs an economy that rewards enterprise, innovation and productivity rather than one that........

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