Marking the 56th anniversary of the independence of Pakistan, a state born amidst chaos and violence, many patriotic speakers noted with pride the accomplishments of the nation. No doubt the country today is much better off than it was in 1947. People are better fed, better clothed and enjoy a better quality of life.

Despite selective memories on this occasion of celebration it ought to be noted that the Pakistani people have endured disproportionate amount of adversity. While the country has muddled through the benefits of nationhood have largely remained undelivered. In comparison with some of the Asian states, which acquired sovereignty at the same time, the Pakistani nation cannot be said to have achieved much in its half century of national existence.

It is sobering to realize that Pakistan became a sovereign member of the international community at approximately the same time as two other Asian nations, namely, Japan and South Korea. But during the five and a half decades the two countries of East Asia made remarkable progress in science, technology and economic advancement while Pakistan lagged behind mired in a morass of backwardness.

After its defeat and occupation Japan literally arose from the ashes, having survived two atomic bomb blasts, to become an economic powerhouse challenging the U.S. in productivity, and the dominance of the global marketplace. While its former colony, South Korea, overcame colonialism and the brutal Korean War that ended in 1953, to emerge thirty years later as a “newly industrialized country” (NIC). Today, it has become an important player in world trade.

Meanwhile, Pakistan with more natural resources than either, coal, gas, oil and land area, vacillated from one corrupt leader to another. Pakistan’s 310,403 square miles of territory is twice that of Japan’s 145,730 and seven times South Korea’s 38,175 square miles. Pakistan has a larger workforce with a population of 145 million, compared to 126 million people in Japan and 50 million in Korea.

When South Korea was down and out in the fifties some Pakistani economic advisors were sent to that country. It is ironic that, decades later it was Pakistanis who were taught the art of road building by South Korea, as it constructed a modern highway through the Punjab heartland. Today, the Daewoo South Korean buses are, for many Pakistanis, the preferred means of transportation in the country.

Despite their common Asian-ness Pakistan stands in stark contrast to both Japan and South Korea on virtually every score of accomplishment that one may wish to consider. In productivity and well-being Pakistan’s per capita income of $480 is a paltry sum in comparison with Japan’s $32,000 or South Korea’s $18,000. In high tech electronics goods the two East Asian nations are at the cutting edge, whereas Pakistan has not even entered the field.

Politically, Japan is a functioning democracy, established since the fifties and South Korea achieved democratic order a little later. Both have highly active citizens, educated and empowered, with a sense of dedication to the welfare of the nation. Their civil society, with voluntary associations for every conceivable need, is the envy of Asia.

Pakistan, on the other hand, has failed in all of these areas. Fifty years later its constitutional order is still being debated. The rule of law is easily and continuously circumvented causing social chaos and civil strife. So, one may ask: what went wrong? Basically, two reasons stand out: one, the lack of visionary leaders, and two, the failure to educate and empower individual citizens.

Pakistan would be well served if it selects Japan and South Korea as its model for the next fifty years. When human capabilities are developed to their logical level the citizens’ choice will be: a representative government and an open economy, with freedom, justice and prosperity for all.