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 is 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
www.risingstars.com.au
SOURCE: http://www.siasat.pk/forum/
Nothing to say but Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThax alot Tony
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome !
ReplyDeleteDear Friends,
ReplyDeleteThis letter to the editor has reached to people outside pakistan and everyone i know in Singapore, China and India do know the truth, and the media playing negative role.
All we need is to do more efforts and spread the good image of pakistan
Thanks Tony for sharing the TRUTH
ReplyDeleteThank you Tony, from the bottom of my heart! As part of the youth force in Pakistan who is frustrated with the increasingly negative image of my country that the media portrays, your letter is like a breath of fresh air :)
ReplyDeletenice..
ReplyDeletethankyou for sharing the gud side of pakistan tony. a heart felt thankyou.
ReplyDeleteIt is my request to all of you, to follow this blog, so that you can spread the word about our future posts as well.
ReplyDeletehappy to finally see this sincere appreciation of Pakistan.I hope that the whole world will sit up and take notice as we Pakistanis have talents that are indeed brilliant but sadly unnoticed
ReplyDeleteThank You Sir ! :)
ReplyDeleteFor promoting the REALITY.
An Eye opener for us, cause we have been suffering with negative thinking as well.
ReplyDeleteSo lets concentrate on all the positive and think how to propagate positive thinking throughout.
Thanks alot Tony.
Atif Hussain
Dear Mr. Lazaro,
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving the world a different prespective of Pakistan.
Pakistan Zindabad.
Thanks a lot Mr. Lazaro for showing the World the true picture.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I study at NUST and I totally agree with whatever you mentioned about the university. The level of competition we have here is unbelievable indeed.
thanks a lot Mr. Lazaro for showing the World the true picture. hope to see you again in Pakistan.
ReplyDeletethanks saleem for reading and commenting this article.
Deletewould be glad if you follow and spread this blog's words.
Bundle of thanks Mr. Lazaro, We are proud to be Pakistani. Our message is love to All.
ReplyDeleteSyed Zahid, thanks for appreciating the author, and reading/commenting this blog post.
DeleteWe invite you to follow/join this blog so that we can spread the good word about Pakistan.
Thanks tony
ReplyDeletewell living in canada i met many canadians whom got negtive image of pakistan due to this media but when they visit pakistan they said beleive me more colourful ,more pragmatic both culturewise and people wise againest india trust me these r words of CBC new anchor they love pakistan .
ReplyDeleteDont have any words except .. thank you.
ReplyDeletethis is pakistan and we want pakistan to be the best nation in the world , it is innocent of people whi are not understanding the politicans ,
ReplyDeletei love pakistan and reday to give our lives if this nation needs , may allah bless this country and insallah this counrty will present this world
This is unfortunate that it will take a foreigner to spread positive words about Pakistan, whereas pakistani sit around, complain & whin and do nothing to potray positive image of Pakistan. Numerous wealthy pakistanis across Pakistan get TIME and other forign magazine. Why don't they write to TIME/Economist/New York Times, etc, magazine???
ReplyDelete