There are 180 million people in Pakistan, 65% are under the age of 25. The youth of Pakistan is its strength.. it is like a sleeping giant. If you think that India is a booming nation, I suggest you stop a second and look at Pakistan. Given a little help from the western world, Pakistan can become a dominant economy. The people of Pakistan do not want our aid and they do not need our money… They just want the chance to be seen in a different light. I believe we have a fundamental obligation to assist. The only question is, who will reach out first.
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REBUTTAL TO: KARACHI IS DOOMED, KARACHI IS INDESTRUCTIBLE …
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by Tony Lazaro
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Note for WoP readers: Time, the US weekly published a lengthy article on Jan 16th 2012. Its titled ‘Karachi is doomed, Karachi is indestructible’. Having put up an introductory paragraph, the magazine directs its readers to access the remaining part of the post by advancing a paid subscription. Since this article carries a good amount of what’s happening in Pakistan’s largest metropolis, I do recommend readers to read this in full by taking the following link
Interestingly there has been a response to this piece by an Australian who was recently in Karachi and who has so aptly rebutted the many half truths about this economic hub of Pakistan..
Then I came across an introductory letter. I do not know whether it too has been jotted down by Lazaro, or by somebody else, but in any case this piece too is more near the facts.
I reproduce here, first this brief followed by the letter from Lazaro he sent to the weekly Time. [Nayyar]
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Hello Everyone.
I am not familiar with blogs or how they work….
I only know that I am familiar with fair play and how that should be. I am humbled at the response that my article has taken across the world.
But at this moment I really do not know where I am going with this journey, only that it has started and I will follow my gut instincts with where it goes. What is blindingly obvious is that everyone seems to know the truth, but no one wants to be seen to change it…. or start the change process.
My challenge therefore is as follows….
If the youth of Pakistan supports the “attitude of change” and the elders (who want to see a better Pakistan), support the youth, then the numbers will far outweigh the negative people (both in Pakistan and the western world), who constantly want to bring the country to its knees.
Pakistan’s future is not in political hands. It is in the hands of the people. Brave people !!!!
The challenge is how many of these brave people will hold hands together ??.
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The Editor, Time Magazine
Dear Editor,
I recently returned from a charitable trip to Pakistan, whereby I visited both Karachi and Islamabad. I spoke with several universities, key businesses, prominent business leaders and several religious people from all generations….
On the day I returned to the office, someone had placed your magazine (January 16, 2012), on my desk. I read with interest your article on Karachi and the city in doom. For a person to have just returned from the very same place that your magazine described was somewhat bizarre, so I read with great detail your writer (Andrew Marshall’s) account.
Let me begin by saying that I often flick through your magazine and find the articles of great interest, but on this particular day and this particular article, I found certain comments to be both one sided and indeed very negative. I say that because I saw a different Pakistan to what was portrayed in your article. I do not and will not comment on the political or religious problems that the country faces, but I will go so far as to say that not everything is as bad as the image that your magazine paints.
Sure there are deaths in the cities. Please show me a city in the world that is free from political fighting and unrest.
Sure there are differences in the political party opinions. Please show me a country in the world where the political parties agree.
Sure the innocent are suffering. Please show me a country in the world where wealth and power is equal and the innocent don’t suffer.
Sure corruption is in Pakistan. Please show me a country in the world that is corruption free.
My list could go on, but my point is that Pakistan does have problems…but so does every other country in the world in some way or another. However, in the case of ALL other nations, there are often good things to report and the media goes out of its way to promote these good things across the globe, whenever possible. The ridiculous amount of shootings in the USA are balanced off by the success of Google, Microsoft and Apple. The financial dilemmas of Greece are lost in the marketing of the Greek Islands as a holiday destination of choice. The child slave industry of India, is brushed under the carpet in favour of the nation’s growth in the global software boom. What I am trying to say, is that someone needs to look further into Pakistan and see that there are millions of great stories to write about, which would portray the country in a different light, to that what is being portrayed by your article.
When I was in Pakistan, I visited a towel manufacturing company (Alkaram Towels). They produced some $60million in export in 2011 and are aiming at $85million in 2012. A substantial increase in sales…in a recession I would remind you. The company was started by the current Chairman, Mr. Mehtab Chawla, at the tender age of nine, after his father passed away. Today the very man employs 3000 staff. Now that’s a story.
I visited universities of NED, Hamdard, Karachi, Szabist and NUST. The students are unbelievably intelligent. They spend their spare time developing APPS for android and apple. They are involved in cutting edge technology and no one in the world knows this. Why not send a reporter to Pakistan to look into this. Why not research good things in this nation, rather than just the bad things. At NUST (National Institution for Science and Technology – Islamabad) there were 38,000 applications for medicine. There are only 83 seats for the medicine course on offer. The competition is unbelievable. In short it pushes the best to be even better. But the world doesn’t know this. Why ? Because no one wants to report on it, or no one knows about it…or both !!
Please do not get me wrong. I understand that news is news, but it is high time that the western world stopped promoting these terrorists and political wars in Pakistan and started to write something that would help the nation. Something positive. If we really care about global partnerships and economic growth, then I suggest we try and give Pakistan a helping hand.
There are 180 million people in Pakistan, 65% are under the age of 25. The youth of Pakistan is its strength.. it is like a sleeping giant. If you think that India is a booming nation. I suggest you stop a second and look at Pakistan. Given a little help from the western world, Pakistan can become a dominant economy. She doesn’t want aid and she doesn’t need money… she just wants the chance to be seen in a different light. I believe we have a fundamental obligation to assist. The only question is, who will reach out first.
Warmest regards,
Tony Lazaro
Managing Director
Rising Stars Management Group
Tel: 02 8824 7000
Fax: 02 8824 7766
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Source, Title image
Related Post:
1. Pakistan. The Calculus has Changed [Viewpoint India]
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