Versatile Pakistan

Projecting positives

“Our press tells us Pakistan is a dangerous place. I feel safe here in Pakistan, that’s why I’m here. Let me say on behalf of my colleagues Luciano Musolino from Italy and Yap Seng Teck from Singapore that we have thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality, have felt totally safe over three days here. I’ve been before with my wife, often over 25 years and I am looking forward to the next time”, said Hans-Peter Rieker from Aichelberg, Germany.

The three presided over the German Shepherd Dog Club of Pakistan’s annual National Championship dog show at Islamabad. Mr. Rieker is among the senior, revered authorities on the breed. Mr Musolino is President of the Italian Club and Mr Yap represents Chinese interests in pet food manufacturing and distribution. Mr Rieker’s remarks were met with loud applause by five hundred odd persons at the F9 park.

The coverage provided to the event in the press and on PTV on both days of the show was impressive. Full marks to the event managers and organisers. This is indicative of Pakistan’s versatility and its ability to think beyond the extremist capsule the world encloses us within. In 2008, purely by chance, a German reporter visiting Lahore happened to come across a banner advertising the same event, coincidentally judged by Mr Rieker, and came to see for himself. He told me he could not believe such an event was happening in Pakistan and came to see if it were true. He was so impressed he ended up filming the event. It was broadcast nationally by ARD television in Germany in a 45-minute documentary and was hugely appreciated. German friends and acquaintances wanting to come to Pakistan overwhelmed me.

Okay, security measures in Islamabad, especially the “extra” care that is taken at the five star hotels, do overwhelm visitors. But at the park, there were no such measures. It is a free, open space and, believe me, nobody looked over their shoulders even for a minute. The crowd represented all echelons of society, entry was free, and the appreciation and applause was par excellence. As was the sportsmanship. Pakistan has so much to offer, I don’t know why we sit and complain all the time.

What seriously needs to be done is to promote the huge liberal energy prevalent in the country. This energy needs to propel the country forward. It needs to compel the judiciary to take action against extremist elements operating. Why, for instance, has suo-moto action not been initiated against the presence of a famed terrorist at a public gathering of the infamous DPC? If you can’t find the terrorist, haul up the organisers and lock them up until they produce him. Why is judicial action not ordered against the merciless and ruthless targeted killing of Shias in Gilgit? Look jumping down the administration’s throat for producing persons taken into custody for alleged connections to extremist elements is perhaps justice but then so is stopping extremism from gaining ground in the country. The prime minister has been hauled up before the bench. It’s high time the extremists are too.

We need to garner writers to push the liberal button and to take to task all those organisations and even the administration for not promoting freedom of thought and action. We are being blackmailed into submission by a vicious minority due to insufficient enforcement of writ. Enough is not being said; the issue is being skirted.

Editors of newspapers need to be convinced that Pakistan comes first. Sensationalism is not necessarily the only way to commercially market newspapers. Quality intellectual content will eventually find its way into the minds of all levels, not only the elite. Today we are confronted by this chronic ailment without realising that contorted translations of the vernacular are provided to foreign embassies by over-zealous local employees. Reporters must be edited carefully and trained to be rational. Prioritisation of news items and coverage must be given serious attention in accordance with their relevance.

Pakistan’s electronic media needs to project Pakistan. Not just the government owned station but all stations. After all they are Pakistani, whether they are with government or against it is unimportant. Projecting a badly managed Pakistan, deficient in every aspect, is totally contrary to reality. And if it is what they say it is then it will not go away with a change in government. Every government will have the same problem and limited success. Which means investment or FDI is something we should never expect.

Our media is lost in sensationalism some may consider entertaining. Talk shows have almost zero credibility and are fanning this feeling themselves. They need to look at the abundant positives and work from thereon. We have now no English language TV channel or content. For a developing country seeking foreign investment and the need to project itself at all levels, such a platform is an absolute essential. I can understand that such a venture may not be commercially viable. Then the government has to make the investment and create a completely independent entity without governmental editorial control. It will be an investment that is Pakistan-centric. We need this and need it fast.

The writer may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected]