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.
I absolutely love the image and identify myself and Pakistan with what’s depicted in it. Mullahs and other such fundamentalist are not us. They’re, as someone said, by-products of our mis-informed “war” against the “godless” communists in support of Afghanistan. Remember these mullahs were given weapons, power and media coverage on US’ command. US thought that if it could incite the religious fervor in the masses, we might help USA down it’s rival. After that the Mullahs were just allowed to run around free, and they corrupted our society.
Showing skin is not about exploiting the feminine sex. It’s about freedom of expression and freedom of speech. Most female models choose [to], and have the right to refuse the show of skin. Let people do what they want to do and not what the Mullah wants them to do.
Long Live Freedom, Long Live Liberty, Long Live Equality and Long Live Pakistan!
Pakistan is about being liberal and being liberal does not mean having women showing skin. Pakistan should be about respect for majority and minority where everyone is looked upon as equal. Sluttyness had jack to do with being liberal I live in Canada and will be visiting Pakistan after 12 years. One thing I see on Pakistani channels is if a girl shows skin it is consider liberal Pakistan. Being liberal means treating everyone equaly not pradeing our women. IF you really want to be liberal why not even allow same sex marriage??? after all the west did and look they are fine???? There is a fine in being a liberal ISLAMIC state and being valuger. Pakistani’s don’t know the diffrence sorry to say that. In a country where 50% of the country earns less then $2 a day you have to worry more about ecnomy and health care and education not go after the “bearded-gun-totting-bomb- throwing-jihadi-Pakistani” who sadly do make majority of the countries population and they do because you idiots don’t spend money on education but rathar make nuclear bombs. For you shoing women with less clothes on is libreal which is reality is quick sad.
Sincerly
Rameez
One of the stories around the time this ad campaign was in progress was that one proposed ad had been shot down for going too far. It had an asterisk below the last city name … with a small print footnote that said “Wait till we get to Sydney”
Back Then, Only a few people read newspapers… illiteracy was higher and the mullahs were non existent… i mean the govt had not yet supported them… radio was the only wide media that that time still had few listeners (radio cannot even show nudity)…
The upper class rich people were there reading the newspapers, middle class and low class were synonyms.
by the way, where is she now ???