The Editor
Time Magazine
Dear Editor,
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….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
Marshall’s) account.
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. 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
don’t suffer. Sure corruption is in Pakistan . Please show me a country
in the world that is corruption free. 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 nation’s 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.
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 that’s
a story. 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 – Islamabad ))
there were 38,000 applications for medicine. There are only 83 seats
for the medicine course on offer. The competition is unbelievable. In
short it pushes the best to be even better. But the world doesn’t
know this. Why? Because no one wants to report on it, or no one knows
about it…or both !!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 doesn’t want aid
and she doesn’t need money… she just wants the chance to be seen in
a different light. I believe we have a fundamental obligation to
assist. The only question is, who will reach out first.
Warmest regards,
Tony Lozoro.
Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012, 11:17 AM
