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.
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