All Answers: [pakgrid] Karachi (Pakistan)

Thanks. I like this comment. Let's work to build success stories !

With best regards,
Imtiaz Rastgar

www.rastgar.com
Ph: +92 51 444 4255
Cell:+92 333 5142345
Fax:+92 51 835 8879

On 16-Jan-2012, at 8:12 AM, Rashad.M.Ramzan wrote:

Dear Dr. Arshad,

Thanks for sharing, yes it true....... and by the way we as a nation has slowly drifted to the habit of promoting and celebrating failures

Thanks and Best Regards

Rashad ramzan

--- On Sun, 15/1/12, Dr. Arshad Ali <arshad.ali@seecs.edu.pk> wrote:

From: Dr. Arshad Ali <arshad.ali@seecs.edu.pk>
Subject: [pakgrid] Your story - Karachi (Pakistan) - A doomed city [1 Attachment]
To: pakgrid@yahoogroups.com
Received: Sunday, 15 January, 2012, 8:42 PM

Dear All,

Below is the eyewitness account from Tony Lazaro who recently visited Karachi and NUST Islamabad. Even Pakistani media get carried away with bad news reporting sensationalism. We need to report good things happening in our society. May I request you all to share these comments on times magazine article by Tony with pakistani media anchor person.

Dear Tony: thanks for sharing your honest thoughts and experiences in Pakistan. Your interaction with students was a great inspiration towards goal setting in life and self confidence. We all appreciate your contribution towards inculcating objectivity towards students life. We look forward to your future visit as well.

Best regards

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tony Lazaro
Date: Sunday, January 15, 2012
Subject: FW: Your story - Karachi (Pakistan) - A doomed city
To: arshad.ali@seecs.nust.edu.pk

Dear Dr. Arshad

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Please find attached an article that was left on my desk the very day I returned to Sydney. Coincidental, that it should be published whilst I was flying home and wondering how to start changing the mindsetï¿½ of the Western People. Perhaps (as Dr. Zsu would say)... it is the universe acting..

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Regardless, I decided to write to the Editor of Times Magazine and start the long road of changing the thought patterns of the rest of the world. It is a very long road... and one that I do not think I am qualified to walk alone, so perhaps you can remember me in your prayers...and if at all possible, ask Allah to send me some assistance. Iï¿½m sure he will see that I am going to need itï¿½ !!

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In the mean time, below is my reply to the attached article. I hope I have represented the wishes of Pakistan and Her people effectively enough.

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Warmest regards,

Your Dear Friend

Tony Lazaroï¿½ J

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The Editor, Times Magazine

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Dear Editor,

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I recently returned from a charitable trip to Pakistan, whereby I visited both Karachi and Islamabad. I spoke with several universities, key businesses, prominent business leaders and several religious people from all generations....

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On the day I returned to the office, someone had placed your magazine (January 16, 2012), on my desk. I read with interest your article on Karachi and the city in doom. For a person to have just returned from the very same place that your magazine described was somewhat bizarre, so I read with great detail your writer (Andrew Marshallï¿½s) account.

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Let me begin by saying that I often flick through your magazine and find the articles of great interest, but on this particular day and this particular article, I found certain comments to be both one sided and indeed very negative. I say that because I saw a different Pakistan to what was portrayed in your article. I do not and will not comment on the political or religious problems that the country faces, but I will go so far as to say that not everything is as bad as the image that your magazine paints.

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Sure there are deaths in the cities. Please show me a city in the world, that is free from political fighting and unrest.

Sure there are differences in the political party opinions. Please show me a country in the world where the political parties agree.

Sure the innocent are suffering. Please show me a country in the world where wealth and power is equal and the innocent donï¿½t suffer.

Sure corruption is in Pakistan. Please show me a country in the world that is corruption free.

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My list could go on, but my point is that Pakistan does have problems...but so does every other country in the world in some way or another. However, in the case of ALL other nations, there are often good things to report and the media goes out of its way to promote these good things across the globe, whenever possible. The ridiculous amount of shootings in the USA are balanced off by the success of Google, Microsoft and Apple. The financial dilemmas of Greece are lost in the marketing of the Greek Islands as a holiday destination of choice. The child slave industry of India, is brushed under the carpet in favour of the nationï¿½s growth in the global software boom. What I am trying to say, is that someone needs to look further into Pakistan and see that there are millions of great stories to write about, which would portray the country in a different light, to that what is being portrayed by your article.

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When I was in Pakistan, I visited a towel manufacturing company (Alkaram Towels). They produced some $60million in export in 2011 and are aiming at $85million in 2012. A substantial increase in sales...in a recession I would remind you. The company was started by the current Chairman, Mr. Mehtab Chawla, at the tender age of nine, after his father passed away. Today the very man employs 3000 staff. Now thatï¿½s a story.

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I visited universities of NED, Hamdard, Karachi, Szabist and NUST. The students are unbelievably intelligent. They spend their spare time developing APPS for android and apple. They are involved in cutting edge technology and no one in the world knows this. Why not send a reporter to Pakistan to look into this. Why not research good things in this nation, rather than just the bad things. At NUST (National Institution for Science and Technology ï¿½ Islamabad)) there were 38,000 applications for medicine. There are only 83 seats for the medicine course ï¿½on offer. The competition is unbelievable. Inï¿½ short it pushes the best to be even better. But the world doesnï¿½t know this. Why ? Because no one wants to report on it, or no one knows about it...or both !!

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Please do not get me wrong. I understand that news is news, but it is high time that the western world stopped promoting these terrorists and political wars in Pakistan and started to write something that would help the nation. Something positive. If we really care about global partnerships and economic growth, then I suggest we try and give Pakistan a helping hand. There are 180 million people in Pakistan, 65% are under the age of 25. The youth of Pakistan is its strength.. it is like a sleeping giant. If you think that India is a booming nation. I suggest you stop a second and look at Pakistan. Given a little help from the western world, Pakistan can become a dominant economy. She doesnï¿½t want aid and she doesnï¿½t need money... she just wants the chance to be seen in a different light. ï¿½I believe we have a fundamental obligation to assist. The only question is, who will reach out first.

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Warmest regards,

Tony Lazaro
Managing Director
Rising Stars Management Group

Tel:ï¿½ 02 8824 7000
Fax: 02 8824 7766
www.risingstars.com.au

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