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?
A couple of “crossed” check flags are the first result if you search for “check flag” on Google Images. They just changed the flag on the right to that of Pakistan. Maybe Google should have figured out that a “check flag” isn’t of much use in Pakistan and suggested “czech flag” instead.
As for the banners, I see them go up and down everyday. Though it is nothing compared to all the other huge wastages of resources, isn’t this another non-essential use of tax-payer money? I mean a foreign diginitary travelling at high speeds while chatting with their Pakistani counterpart would hardly bother with a banner on an overhead bridge. They must seem strange to most foreigners, even if they do see them, since it isn’t a common practice in most places.
Who took the pictures? Is this by author?
It’s pretty funny (from a Pakistani Point of View) I wonder why no one reported this (Newspapers, TV etc..) the leader of a country is coming and they put that up, I’m sure it was unintentional but still. I’m surprised no government official noticed and/or reported it.
[quote comment=”46809″]This is really funny…can you imagine the Jahliat…or may be all the learned have better things to do (than to worry about correct flag) like attending rallies..[/quote]
Hahahaah..yeah.
Disgustingly funny. Don’t tell me it really happened!
Hats off to Our ELITE politicians, bureaucrats and generals.