A heartfelt note from an overseas Pakistani..
I sit here, an overseas Pakistani, dreaming of a better Pakistan—a place where rules matter, where people feel safe, and where the system works for everyone. I’ve lived in the USA for years now, and every day, I see something that makes me proud of this country but also breaks my heart for my homeland. Here, people follow rules. Not just because it’s in their culture but because the system leaves them no choice—and because it respects them back. Let me tell you some real stories that show you what I mean.
A $3,500 Lesson on a Quiet Road
My friend, Ali, moved to the USA a few years ago. One day, he was driving back home with his whole family—his two little kids giggling in the backseat, his parents chatting, and his wife next to him. They were out of town, and it was getting late. He just wanted to get home faster. The road sign said 55 miles per hour, but Ali pushed it to 90. The road was empty—or so he thought.
Suddenly, blue lights flashed behind him. A police car pulled him over. His heart sank. The officer didn’t shout or insult him. He calmly explained: “You were speeding. You put your family’s life—and others’—in danger.” Ali got a ticket for $3,500. Yes, $3,500! That’s more money than many people in Pakistan make in months. Ali was shocked. He told me later, “I’ve never sped again. Not even a little.” That one moment taught him a lesson for life.
I had my own story too. Once, I didn’t stop my car fully at a stop sign. There was no one around—no cars, no people, just an empty street. I thought, “Who cares?” But a camera caught me. A few days later, a ticket came in the mail—$100, with a picture of my car and a video proving I broke the rule. I laughed at first, then felt ashamed. Even when no one was watching, the system was. Because they have a system of “Reward and Punishment“
In the USA, the system works because there is a clear sense of reward and punishment—people know that good behavior is appreciated and bad behavior has consequences.
In Pakistan, we speed through roads, ignore signals, and bribe our way out if we’re caught. Here, you can’t escape the rules. They’re strict, yes, but they keep everyone safe. It makes me wonder: Why can’t we have this in Pakistan?
A Few Pennies That Changed My Heart
One day, I got a small envelope from the gas company. I opened it, expecting a bill. Instead, there was a check—for 13 cents. Thirteen cents! With it was a note: “You overpaid your bill. We’re sorry for the mistake. Here’s your money back.”
I held that check in my hand and stared at it. Thirteen cents wouldn’t buy me a cup of tea. If they’d kept it, I’d never have noticed. But they didn’t. They sent it back because it was the right thing to do. That tiny piece of paper wasn’t just money—it was honesty. It was respect.
In that moment, I felt something warm inside me. I felt safe. I realized: this is why people here trust the system. The government, the companies, even the police—they work for the people. If they make a mistake, they fix it. If you break a rule, they correct you. It’s not about fear alone; it’s about fairness.
Back in Pakistan, I’ve seen shopkeepers cheat you for a few rupees. I’ve seen officials take bribes and laugh about it. Once, my uncle paid his electricity bill twice by mistake. Did they send him a refund? No. They kept it, and he never knew until months later. In Pakistan, we don’t trust the system because it doesn’t trust us.
Why It Hurts Me
Every time I see these things in the USA, I feel two things at once: hope and pain. Hope, because I see how a country can run when rules matter. Pain, because I know Pakistan could be like this too—but it isn’t.
Here, people stand in lines at the store. They don’t jump queues because they know everyone will get their turn. In Pakistan, we push and shove because we’re afraid we’ll lose our chance. Here, the police protect you, not scare you. In Pakistan, we avoid them because we don’t know if they’ll help or hurt us. Here, justice is free—courts listen to the poor and the rich the same. In Pakistan, justice is a dream we can’t afford.
I’m not saying the USA is perfect. It has problems too. But the difference is this: their system cares about people. Ours doesn’t. And that’s why their people follow rules—because they believe in it. They feel respected, so they give respect back.
A Dream for Pakistan
As a Pakistani living overseas, I don’t write this to complain. I write this because I love Pakistan too much to stay silent.
We are smart, talented, and warm-hearted people. But our habit of breaking rules, ignoring the system, and thinking “yeh Pakistan hai, chalta hai” is hurting us deeply.
I want a Pakistan where speeding costs you—not because of a bribe, but because lives matter. I want a Pakistan where a company sends you 13 paisa back if they owe it to you. I want a Pakistan where rules aren’t just words on paper but promises we all keep.
I know change is hard. I know it takes time. But I also know this: if ordinary people like me and you start believing in rules—if we stop breaking them just because we can—maybe the system will start believing in us too.
So, tell me, my friends in Pakistan and around the world: don’t we deserve a system we can trust? Don’t we deserve to feel safe, respected, and cared for? I think we do. And I hope one day, we’ll get there—together.
This is my story, my pain, and my dream. What’s yours?
you know what? it’s so true. it’s like how you behave in the house vs how you behave outside. your house that give you shelter and protection, but you take it for granted. same rule is applied here, ppl behave differently in Pakistan vs out of the Country. they follow rules and policies when out of the country, but abuse the system in the country.
You’re right—people do behave differently inside vs outside their home. But my point is deeper: in countries like the USA, people trust the system because it’s honest and fair. When truth and accountability are missing—like in Pakistan, where even a blind man can get a driving license—the whole system breaks down. That’s why real change needs more than just better behavior; it needs trustworthy institutions.