The scene: the National Day of Argentina.
An event has been organised and minister of state for health, the hardworking Saira Tarar is the chief guest.
Starting off her speech, Our Lady of Hafizabad says, “Good night, ladies and gentlemen!” Because, of course, if it’s Good Morning for the mornings, then…
Moving on, she went on to mention how Pakistan was “exporting polio”. Hey, it might not have been what she meant but at least it was the truth!
At the end of the function, a sheepish local dignitary went up to one of the Argentine diplomats and apologised for the minister’ faux pas.
What’s there to apologise for, replied the master diplomat. It’s not her mother tongue and neither is it mine. Well, bravo! I know who I’ll be cheering for in the football World Cup!
———-
Boy, did Ishaq Dar drone on that day! The budget speech, written by an erudite Urdu-phile finance secretary, was replete with choice couplets and little substance by way of finance. Or, if not substance, then novelty.
In the middle, the prime minister even sent his finance czar word that it was time for the evening prayer. But our man seemed to have gotten a travel exemption from prayers, seeing how he was on a trip of some sorts.
Budget speech not quite economical on words.
