Some generations are called upon to defend a nation’s borders. Others are called upon to strengthen its economy, build its institutions, create opportunities, and elevate its standing in the world.
The mission may change with time, but the responsibility to serve the nation remains the same.
Recently, I had the privilege of meeting Air Marshal (Retd.) Sharbat Ali Changezi in Istanbul, a distinguished officer of the Pakistan Air Force whose lifetime of service represents a remarkable chapter in Pakistan’s history.
Meeting someone who dedicated decades of his life to the defense of Pakistan was not simply an opportunity to meet a decorated military officer. It was an opportunity to reflect on what national service means across generations.
A Lifetime Dedicated to Pakistan
Commissioned into the Pakistan Air Force in 1949, Air Marshal Sharbat Ali Changezi devoted nearly four decades to serving and defending Pakistan.
His career spanned some of the most defining periods in the country’s history. He served with distinction during the 1965 and 1971 wars, flew combat missions, commanded fighter squadrons and major air bases, and ultimately rose to the rank of Air Marshal.
His exceptional service and contributions to Pakistan earned him some of the country’s highest military honors, including the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military), and Sitara-e-Basalat.
His generation faced a very different Pakistan, one that required courage, sacrifice, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to protecting the nation.
Their battlefield was the defense of the country.
Our battlefield is different.
The Meaning of National Service Has Evolved
As Founder & President of the Pakistan–Türkiye Investment & Development Council (PTIDC) and through my work with Fortune Group Global, I have dedicated my professional efforts to investment, economic diplomacy, international partnerships, and strengthening economic relations between Pakistan and Türkiye.
Through this journey, I have come to believe that building a stronger economy is also a form of national service.
National service does not always take place on a battlefield.
It can take place in a boardroom where an investment decision creates hundreds of jobs.
It can happen when an entrepreneur builds a company that competes internationally.
It can happen when institutions are strengthened through transparency and integrity.
It can happen when an international partnership opens new markets for Pakistani businesses.
And it can happen when bridges are built between nations, bringing investment, knowledge, technology, and opportunity back to Pakistan.
These efforts may not always make headlines, but collectively they shape the economic strength of a nation.
Pakistan’s Greatest Asset Is Its Potential
Pakistan possesses extraordinary potential.
We have a young and ambitious population, talented entrepreneurs, strategic geographic importance, natural resources, and a resilient society that has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to overcome challenges.
The question is not whether Pakistan has opportunities.
The real question is whether we have the vision, discipline, institutional strength, and collective determination to transform those opportunities into lasting progress.
Economic development cannot be achieved overnight.
It requires consistency.
It requires institutions that people can trust.
It requires policies that encourage investment and innovation.
It requires stronger connections between the public and private sectors.
And above all, it requires a generation willing to think beyond immediate gains and work toward long-term national prosperity.
Honoring a Legacy Through Action
History remembers individuals who dedicate themselves to causes greater than personal success.
Air Marshal Sharbat Ali Changezi belongs to a generation that protected Pakistan through courage, discipline, and sacrifice.
Their contribution gives us more than a historical legacy. It gives us a responsibility.
We cannot replicate their service in the same way because the challenges of our time are different.
But we can carry forward the same spirit of commitment.
For our generation, that means building stronger institutions.
Creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Attracting international investment.
Strengthening Pakistan’s economic relationships with the world.
Promoting innovation and technology.
And creating an environment where the next generation does not simply inherit Pakistan’s potential—but has the opportunity to realize it.
From Defense to Development
There is a tendency to view national defense and economic development as separate responsibilities.
I believe they are deeply connected.
A strong nation requires both security and economic strength.
The generation that defended Pakistan created the foundation upon which subsequent generations could build.
Now it is our responsibility to strengthen that foundation.
Every successful business that creates employment, every international investment that enters the country, every Pakistani company that reaches a global market, and every institution that operates with integrity contributes to the same national objective: a stronger Pakistan.
The form of service may change, but the purpose remains the same.
A Responsibility Passed From One Generation to Another
My meeting with Air Marshal (Retd.) Sharbat Ali Changezi in Istanbul reminded me that national progress is ultimately a generational responsibility.
One generation protects the nation.
Another develops it.
Another expands its influence.
And each generation leaves behind a foundation for the one that follows.
The true measure of our success will not simply be the wealth we accumulate individually, but the opportunities, institutions, and possibilities we create for those who come after us.
Air Marshal Sharbat Ali Changezi’s generation defended Pakistan when the nation needed defenders.
Our generation must answer the call of our own time.
We must build.
We must invest.
We must innovate.
We must strengthen our institutions.
And we must build bridges with the world.
Because defending a nation and developing a nation are not opposing missions.
They are chapters of the same story.
His generation defended Pakistan.
Ours must build its future.
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