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.
Amazing advert. Artistically it is just superb. Socially it reminds us of a Pakistan that the Mullahs have killed today.
This reminds us of a time when we were a more tolerant and better society. These mullahs have actualy made us more hateful and therefore LESS Islamic!
this ad is not something Pakistanis should be proud of
Actually, as an Ad, I think this is a spectacular ad!
I should make my graphic design fellow mates to see this. Am sure they
ll be ready to hang themselves.