The national flag carrier maybe looking to improve its business but there is one VVIP that is not lending a helping hand. We hear that this VVIP recently went on an official trip to Washington (via Dubai of course) and PIA reps were not unreasonably hoping to get his custom. To their surprise the VVIP opted for the rival UAE airlines commercial flight and felt no qualms landing in Washington in a UAE flag carrier. There could be a number of reasons for the choice. Perhaps it is better hospitality and finer cuisine or just the higher degree of anonymity it can afford. But in any case traveling commercial with or without the national carrier may have got him a few brownie points at home and Islamabad can certainly do with some of them these days.
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It is amazing how quickly a political star who passes away into the next world can be forgotten by his own comrades but mourned by those who knew him just fleetingly in his lifetime. We hear that immediately after Taseers horrific murder, the TV anchors and chat show hosts found that their list of ever ready commentators and analysts had shrunk dramatically. They were not at home, had forgotten to charge their cell phones, were at an important meeting or were just unable to talk, due to grief perhaps. These intellectuals who previously lobbied to be invited to high-rated chat shows and discharged their scathing one-liners like bursts from an automatic machine gun, had just gone silent, However, the visiting US Vice President, Joe Biden, had the grace to ring Taseers widow from Islamabad and talk to her at length about her late husbands memory and her own well being. Someone please tell these commentators plus intellectuals Come back, all is forgiven.
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There may be an economic recession in the country but tell that to the marriage industry. Apparently this industry is growing phenomenally as it picks up cues from Bollywood film images. Glamour is now the key word and nothing gets you there without a bride that looks like she walked out of a page in a fashion magazine. We hear that the fashion industry has expanded phenomenally in these desperate times and a bridal designer dress starts at Rs. 200,000 and can go up to Rs 1000, 000 if you dont apply the brakes. Of course there is the bridal make up that can put you back by another fifty thousand rupees each session. At the end of the day the bridegroom may not recognise the girl he proposed to but who cares. She looks like a Bollywood star and that is what a wedding is all about or is it?
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