Adil Najam
PIA print advertisement from the 1960s (Originally uploaded by PakPositive.com which is a blog that highlights the positives aspects of Pakistan).
Let me continue with the ‘Image Pakistan’ theme in choosing the picture for today. I find this advert for PIA absolutely fascinating; both for what it says about how PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) saw itself and how it saw Pakistan (or wanted Pakistan to be seen).
Was this the reality of Pakistan before theso-called ‘darhi wallahs’ took center stage? Or was this ‘image’ of Pakistan as much out-of-sync with the reality of what was Pakistan then, as the image of the bearded-gun-totting-bomb- throwing-jihadi-Pakistani is today?
Speaking of ‘image’ and ‘brand’ the Association of Pakistani Professionals (AOPP) has recently launched an initiative on the subject and held a thoughtful and thought-provoking event on he subject in New York on June 3. I was asked to moderate part of the program, and found the discussion to be mature, reasoned and reasonable–something we should have more of.
ORIENT AIR WAYS
NOW IT IS PIA
Yes, am right PIA use to have only one air craft (Dikota) and the name was Orient Air Ways . Then they worked hard and grow up very fast, because they were working hard.The staff of Orient Airways (PIA) was only for working, but now they have staff more than the requirement, peoples comes sits and goes to home and come and collect the salaries. PIA should reduce the staff and keep only the honest and working people. So they will be again the best PIA of 1960′
All this I wrote because I love my country Pakistan and want every thing is attached to Pakistan should be grow and honest. with my best wishes.
Hameeduddin Khan (LAKRI)
Comments on PIAs Pakistan image lady are so serious. How if some one ask PIA chief or his masters to post similar, may be more open pictur of his sister or daughter on PIA promotion magazines? If they feel shame, they are still auckward like me and they should stop doing these things in the name of Pakistans promotion as an open country.
I read ur atical, you show a clear picture of Pakistan, I appericiat you.
May Allah make a Pakistan as a good, soft and respectable picturial form.
Yes we are moving towards extremism. It is high time to tell these mullahs - “dont preach”. Just because you sit in Masjid, does not mean that you should preach us. Who are you to decide on hijab?
Say No to Fatwa. In fact, make Fatwa illegal by law. These mullahs use fatwa as a means to increase their say in political society.
The society in pakistan is moving towards extremism, the darhi is the sign and hijab are the signs , signs of observance or you may say fear and intolerance . Yes the 60, 70 were the years of tolerance . I was there
I am repeating most of Mr. Zuberi’s message as I think it makes so much sense. I have a eight year old daughter and though I would like her to be as free and liberated as any other person male or female, I would consider it very undesirable if she labours under such images and such mentalities where a female’s liberation is measured by the amount ofher skin visible. Remarks in brace brackets are mine.
Quoting Mr. Zuberi
“… I’m rather saddened to see a scholar of your caliber equating the exploitation of female sex appeal with “positives [sic] aspects of Pakistan { or any where in the world }” and darhee wallahs with bomb-throwing. To see the world in such narrow, black-and-white vision is not a healthy sign in anyone. I’m not sure why certain factions in our society want to measure Pakistan’s “progress” with the yardstick of skin exposure and abuse of feminine charm. This approach, in the context of Pakistan’s society, is rather hypocritical, because the vast majority of Pakistani men and women (I’m not sure where you personally stand) would not want their wives, daughters or sisters to even be represented in this way, much less be involved in such endeavors. {I don’t know whether I would dictate my daughter to do this or that especially as an adult, but would certainly would wish that she does not suffer compliance to such debased standards, I think as parents it is for us to instill the right values.}
Hello friends,
By looking at this picture I can only imagine how tolerant our country was back in 60’s. Its only after the invasion of military in politics, country lost track, and became an intolerate state. Pakistan is rich in everything, from culture to history, from Art to science, only mismanagement is making country a mess. I can only hope Pakistani army should realise this fact and instead of attacking their own country, they should concentrate of new techniques of wars.
why do we have to imagine just one Pakistan. we have 160 million people, they can have various ideas, various attitudes, various priorities. the question is whether we can imagine a Pakistan that is for all Pakistanis and for all the visions they have for themselves and their country