PAKISTAN is one of those countries fortunate enough to have people who have excelled in different fields. Pakistanys have made their mark domestically and internationally. Pakistanys have worked hard to earn laurels for the motherland. Pakistanys have made it to the top in their spheres of activity and have become famous in the country and abroad. The country honors them on their achievements. The President decorates them with the appropriate medal on August 14 or March 23. Various social organizations hold functions to eulogize the services and feats of these heroes. The newspapers publish the required articles highlighting the achievements of these heroes. PTV and Radio Pakistan get them on air for interviews or invite them as guests on certain programs. But all these are scattered and isolated activities. What is needed is a well-thought out plan to effectively blitz the environment and saturate the country with activities to pay homage to the heroes.

The right approach to this program is essentially to motivate the public to participate enthusiastically and with zeal and fervor. It is also crucial in today's volatile atmosphere where brother is killing brothers where peace is a long lost commodity, and where trust has vanished behind the clouds. The country has, especially in the last few years, seldom enjoyed happy moments enveloped in an air of festivity. It has always been the custom to suppress the citizen's feelings of joy. This country has not been able to even derive pleasure in displays of conviviality on Independence Day or Pakistan Day. There is therefore the urgent need to mold public concentration towards a solution, event, or happening, where people from all walks of life are brought together, to join in a day of celebration. One such way is to dedicate one day to glorify, honor, and commemorate the achievements of someone who has been instrumental in bringing fame to Pakistan. It's time to designate A DAY FOR THE HERO.

The designated day should be celebrated on a holiday, e.g. a Friday, but it should not be declared a public holiday because it is high time excessive declarations of holidays are discouraged. A permanent high powered committee should be set up which will work as a Board to chalk out comprehensive plans and programs to honor the heroes. This Committee should be broad-based and should include representatives from trade and industry, government, sportsmen, scholars, editors, noted journalists, representatives from PTV, radio, PIA, WAPDA, Armed Forces, utilities corporations, metropolitan corporations and also a few experts who are specialists in organization of events. The Board will also prepare guide lines to collect revenue to be spent on these programs.

The Board will be totally responsible for planning program to honor the heroes. Corporations will be enlisted to sponsor banners which will be festooned all over the town, or city of the event or even in other cities. These banners will herald the hero with the appropriate messages. Citizens or other organizations could sponsor the banners too. The newspapers will publish special supplements highlighting the achievements of the hero. Private and public corporations would be asked to release their advertisements for these supplements. Franchises can be given to companies to produce T-Shirts, pencils, key chains, calendars and other novelty items. (Just a thought: Ziaul Islam Zuberi, the mastermind behind the award winning Sandoz calendars can plan one for 1991 depicting Pakistany heroes). The income from the franchises will add to the kitty of the committee from which an acceptable amount will be given as a gift to the hero. There will also be a special song composed by a noted music director with words by a famous poet. This song will feature praises for the hero. This song would be played on radio, telecast on TV, and blared from cassette-recorders all over the country.

The climax of the day would be a colorful, scintillating, and heart-warming procession in either the heroes' town or city or in the capital of the heroes' province. The procession should include school children, teenagers, laborers, sportsmen, and others who want to join in the fun. The procession would pass thru a designated route bedecked with multi-colored pennants and beatings. Of course, there would be no political party/ethnic organization flags. The only flag allowed would be the national flag.

The center car in the procession would carry the hero of the day. He should be accompanied either by the President, the Prime Minister, the Governor or the Chief Minister. The procession will culminate at a point where gifts, presents, and other mementos would be given to the hero. The special significance of the final ceremony will be re-naming an important road, place, ground or hallmark in the name of the hero. Atleast one road in each province should be named after the hero. The hero should be given the full treatment and it is necessary for all the citizens to pay due homage to the Pakistany hero.

Jehangir Khan is one such Pakistany hero. A true-blooded 100 percent Pakistany hero. A person who is unpretentious, a sportsman who has never let success bloat his head, a son who is a paradigm of obedience, and a citizen who feels proud to belong to Pakistan. He has achieved at a young age what no one else has achieved in any sport in the history of sports. Jehangir, living up to his name as the Conqueror of the World, has won the British Open, the top honor in squash for the ninth consecutive time. Nine times in a row. This year at Wembley, he made pulp (pun intended) of Rodney Martin at the squash court. Jehangir has been the guiding force behind Pakistan's virtual domination of the squash world. The way he has kept up his skills, the manner in which he has improved his technique, and the method he has adopted to preserve his stamina is a textbook case for upcoming squash players to study and emulate. At one time he was unbeaten for more than five and a half years. This is one hell of a record which no sportsmen in history has ever achieved. And, this laurel belongs to a 100 per cent, all - Pakistany hero, Jehangir Khan.

Waqar Yunus, barely out of his teens, plucked from a small town, Vehari, made mincemeat of world class test cricketers in Sharjah. There he did wonders with the red ball. The way he mesmerized Australian terror, Dean Jones and got him out for a duck on the second ball was just too much. The Australian batting whiz was awe-struck with that super duper delivery. It was no small feat that Waqar Yunus was declared Man-of-the Tournament. It just goes to prove that with the right approach, correct guidance, and zero politics, Pakistan can have a team that not only can be formidable but in all practical terms a model of invincibility. Waqar Yunus is part of this team and a Pakistany hero.

Pakistan has other heroes too. Wasim Akram, Hussein Shah, Qamar Ebrahim, and so many others who have brought glory to Pakistan. Then there have been top scientists, noted doctors, famous writers, computer whiz kids, renowned engineers etc., who have carved a niche for themselves and for their motherland. By honoring these heroes, Pakistan can motivate other citizens to excel. The human potential of this country has to be cultivated with the right approach, with the right thinking and with the right facilities. Pakistan is proud of its heroes and reciprocately the heroes are proud to be Pakistanys. A day for the hero will make everybody proud.