DESPITE the chaos and mess created over the years by our so-called leaders, Pakistan has produced fine individuals who make all of us proud. Among them is none other than Air Commodore M. M. Alam, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest fighter pilots of all times and arguably the best in the modern jet warfare era.

Mr Alam is the only ‘jet ace’ (the ace is that the fighter pilot who shoots down at least five enemy aircraft in the air combat) in the history of the world who became an ace in the minimum possible time in a single sortie/mission in the 1965 Pakistan-India war.

He is still the top scorer in the South Asia by shooting down nine Indian aircraft and damaging two. His extraordinary feat of courage and valour literally put our enemy on the back foot though they had a superior air force.

At present the PAF hero is critically ill and is admitted to a hospital of armed forces. Being a retired PAF officer, I know about his ailment and keep praying for his speedy recovery and convalescence.

In the mean time I hope the print media would like to especially write about him and the electronic media to air from time to time programmes about this war veteran. This will indeed motivate our young generation and millions of other Pakistanis who are demoralised due to the present state of affairs.

A country which forgets its heroes can never flourish and goes into oblivion with time.

M. ASIF      Karachi