Adil Najam
On your left is the picture of the flag of the Czech Republic. On your right is a ‘Check’ (or, rather, checkered flag; often used in car racing. The two should never be confused. Except for the fact that ‘Czech’ is pronounced as ‘check.’
Ordinarily, this should not be a problem. But right now the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic is visiting Islamabad, and the Capital’s PR people have adorned flags on flagpoles and a number of (very) large banners to welcome him in the spirit of good hospitality. The only problem is that instead of putting the ‘Czech’ flags on the banners, they have ‘Check’ flags!
I saw these while driving back into Islamabad on the from the Airport. I rushed back to see if I would figure out who was responsible for this little gaffe and maybe alert them to the mistake before the Czech PM arrived. Unfortunately, it turned out that the Czech PM was already here.
I wonder what he and his team thought of this. Did they even mention it to their hosts or did they just keep politely quiet? I also wonder what they thought about the banner that read: “We Pray for the Czech Progress and Prosperity”?I am sure they liked the sentiment, but maybe they also wondered why Pakistanis are praying for Czech progress and prosperity instead of working harder for Pakistani progress or prosperity. On the other hand, maybe they do not think as hard about what is written on banners as I do!
I have no way of knowing this, but my theory of how this might have happened is this – Someone tells someone to find out what a Czech (read ‘check’) flag looks like; they look up ‘check flag’ on Google, and that is the one which makes it way on the banner.
Nice story for a chuckle? But how would you feel if the Pakistan Prime Minister goes to another country and they mess up the flags this way?
To our Czech friends: We are very happy that so many Czechs are visiting this purely Pakistani site. This little mistake, most likely on the part of the printing company, has provided an opportunity for all of us to learn about others. Please make ATP as a regular visiting place. We will tell you about our next goof and you may tell us about yours. This makes life that much more interesting. Long live Czech Republic.
I’m from Check Republic too and I’m amused :)) Very good joke :))
Yeah, as stated above, we witness this almost everyday. Very often, the name of the country (=Czech Republic) is maimed into either Check, Chechz etc etc etc… That is even a good variant. Usually some less wise people mistake the Czech Rep. with Chechnya and so on… We are used to it.
It really cracked me up seeing the checkerboard there, LOL.
On the other hand, they Pakistani side should czech whether it’s correct before posting the flag. :)
Cheers from Prague,
Dudu
Thanks to all Czech friends for thier understanding. But as a Paksitani I am ashamed and sorry for this mistake, really.
But yes I have also learnt.
I never really knew what the Czech flag looked like. Now I wil never forget it ever :-)
I cant imagine better advertisement of the Czech Rep. in Pakistan :).
Our pakistani fellows now study maps and maybe history of that little country in the hearth of Europe. Guys dont worry, it happens and I am sure that it will not disturb Czech-Pakistan relation at all.