| I know what you’re thinking: why should I put my | | | | item gets thrown out! Well, that’s how it works; you |
| money in a place I’ve never even heard of before? | | | | don’t get such good quality with out many years of |
| Even for those who do know something about | | | | experience to back it up. |
| Pakistan, courtesy of CNN (and sometimes the BBC) | | | | So those of you who want to place your |
| have seen pictures of violence – people burning | | | | manufacturing trust in Pakistan, you have my blessings! |
| effigies of President George Bush, rioting, army | | | | I assure you that the quality and reliability and skill are |
| personnel swarming over so-called terrorist camps | | | | there and it’s a safe bet. I know I don’t have |
| and, of course, not to forget, a whole lot of bloodshed. | | | | any figures to back what I’m saying and most of |
| No wonder it is usually confused with other places like | | | | you are probably incredulous at the suggestions I have |
| Iraq and Afghanistan, which are actually going through | | | | made just now, BUT these are FACTS and I assure |
| very bad times. | | | | you, you can double check with any Pakistani friend, |
| But trust me, Pakistan is different. I know this sounds | | | | relative, or colleague of yours. But, make sure it’s |
| clichéd – AND you’ve probably heard it all a | | | | someone who has been living there, at least until |
| million times before – but the media portrays a lot of | | | | recently. |
| the Eastern world in a very negative light, and that is | | | | Now, moving on to other business sectors. In Pakistan, |
| why we have had to suffer both socially and | | | | the economy is currently in the state of a bubbling, |
| economically. But, as usual there IS the other side of | | | | frothy pot of soup. I understand the analogy is |
| the coin to look at too. With all due respect, I think we | | | | probably lost on you, but that’s what it is. It keeps |
| all are a little too self-indulged and over-influenced with | | | | having highs and lows. Right now, we’re |
| ONE perspective (usually the media) and tend to | | | | somewhere in the middle of the graph and the curve is |
| ignore the fact that all of Mother Earth is inhabited by | | | | slowly mounting. A lot of foreign investment is taking |
| human beings, first of all, AND then different races, | | | | place as of this moment – mostly in |
| religions and nations. Ok, I know, this is getting too | | | | telecommunications, Information Technology, corporate |
| patronising, and you’re curious to know about the | | | | law and call centres. Also, the housing sector is |
| business climate in Pakistan (??), so I’ll start writing | | | | developing as many foreign firms have been |
| about it. Just bear with me for a few more minutes - | | | | contracted to manage housing projects – which |
| lines rather. | | | | encompasses planning, building and ongoing |
| Ok. Here’s the deal. I will try to introduce you to the | | | | maintenance – and these firms spend years and |
| concept, in my usual, offhand, irritating way – as you | | | | years doing all this. Also, since there was only one |
| have probably gathered about me by know – that | | | | major port in Pakistan in Karachi, another one is being |
| Pakistan IS, IN FACT, I dare say, a good place to do | | | | built in a beautiful place called Gwador, which, as they |
| business, at the very least, from a long-term point of | | | | say, is meant to parallel Dubai, the aim being to gear up |
| view. The situation of the economy, currently, is, I | | | | for the future increase in trade. There are many skilled |
| agree, very precarious. BUT, it is slowly and steadily | | | | people who have returned back to Pakistan after |
| gathering force and the markets down there ARE | | | | working for many years in Europe and the USA, and |
| improving, especially after taking a dip post 9/11! Tell | | | | are now pushing growth in all these sectors. |
| you what, did you know that alot of the surgical goods | | | | I know a lot of you might think I’m exaggerating or |
| that are used in the UK AND the US and in some | | | | just putting Pakistan in a good light for the sake of |
| other European countries are imported from Pakistan? | | | | doing so, BUT all I’m trying is to say is that there is |
| Bet u didn’t know that! STILL better, for all you | | | | quite a qualified and cheap skill base and strong |
| football fans out there – did you know that a lot of | | | | industry and infrastructure base in Pakistan which can |
| the footballs used in World Cup football and at club | | | | be used to your benefit. So how come you’ve |
| level competitions are made in Pakistan? | | | | never heard of all this before? Simple answer, the |
| There’s more!! | | | | secret lies in good old marketing – we NEED to put |
| A lot of other sports goods, including cricket gear (balls, | | | | ourselves in a good light. And that’s exactly what |
| especially bats), tennis and squash rackets are | | | | I’m doing. You can’t blame me for that, can |
| imported from? YES – you guessed it – from a | | | | you? Because coming from Pakistan, I have always |
| place called Sialkot IN Pakistan!! AND it gets EVEN | | | | felt the need to correct millions of misconceptions |
| better! A lot of ready made garments are imported | | | | about us, and this is just the beginning. |
| FROM Pakistan to the US and UK. | | | | No. I’m not going on forever. All I want to say is |
| BUT wait a second! Not just any old thing is exported. | | | | that I hope I have sparked enough curiosity amongst at |
| Before export, all the finished products go through the | | | | least ONE of you to find out more about this under |
| highest standard of export quality checks IN Pakistan. | | | | represented and misrepresented place called Pakistan |
| And believe me, this is taken VERY seriously – | | | | and I only hope that some day the country will be seen |
| something as small as a wrong stitch, and the whole | | | | in a much better light than today. |