Why I love Pakistan
By Catriona Luke – 26 August 2010 16:33
Despite its terrible troubles, this part of the western subcontinent is lively, beautiful and misunderstood.
I’ve worked in Mumbai and been in India many times, but have always had an ill-concealed soft spot for Pakistan, which sits in the west of the subcontinent.
Pakistan has a much longer history than its three-generational link to 1947 — it’s the land of Gandhara Buddhism, Ashoka and his pillars, the lovely city of Lahore and the archaeological remains of Mohenjo Daro as well as the Indus Valley civilisation. And, like India, it’s a land of stunning landscapes, peaceful farming lands and a tight bond between land and people.
It is also at this moment a troubled part of the world. Like India, Pakistan has been able to do little about the rising poverty of its rural poor. Unlike India, it has a long way to go to expand the educated middle class which, over the border, has been responsible in great measure for a buoyant and expanding economy.
Pakistan trains fantastic lawyers (often called to the Bar in London), doctors, engineers, bio scientists, economists and statisticians, teachers and IT specialists, but they often struggle to find the rewarding careers that would be theirs in the west. However, this is beginning to change, largely due to the return of a young generation of American-educated go-getters.
Crucially, the middle classes have also found it difficult to penetrate politics through the National Assembly, where zaminder (landowning) interests and opaque power deals between the army and religious parties predominate. As in India, you need deep pockets and good connections to enter politics. As Salman Rushdie said in Shame (1983): “You can get anywhere in Pakistan if you know people, even into jail.”
If India mutters about the ever-present “foreign hand” interfering — with justification, as both the KGB and the CIA have held sway in New Delhi at different times — Pakistan has it for real.
Saudi Arabia’s charming export of Wahhabism (latterly in the form of the Taliban and al-Qaeda) has been wreaking havoc in the region for decades, destroying the indigenous and centuries-old subcontinental Sunni Sufi mysticism and putting pressure on Pakistan’s courtly and aristocratic Shia intelligentsia as well as its Ahmadi, Hindu and Christian minorities.
It would have needed an exceptionally strong, moral, good, worldly and intelligent leader of Pakistan in the 1970s to avoid the lure and trap of Saudi money, which was accepted to improve the country’s infrastructure and real estate. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was not it.
While Pakistan’s international image has suffered immeasurably in the intervening years, I would urge all who love the subcontinent to look past the headlines and the international analysis, and see a country which, for the moment at least, is cut off from its continental neighbour. Here are my own reasons for loving Pakistan:
1. Women are noisily at the centre of Pakistani life. Challenging and vocal, they sit at the heart of the family and have made good progress into professional and political life.
Declan Walsh reported the terrible attack on the Ahmadi community in June, and noted that it was three women from different parties — ANP’s Bushra Rehman, MQM’s Khushbakht Shujaat and PPP’s Farahnaz Ispahani — led by the former PPP minister Sherry Rehman, who crossed the floor in the National Assembly and made sure the legislature said “no”.
In human rights and the state’s nurturing of all religions and religious minorities, Pakistan has never gone far enough. But with 30 per cent of seats in the National Assembly occupied by women (India has 10 per cent), they are playing a more significant role in the legislature. That may help bring the country back to Jinnah’s original ideals of a tolerant, secular nation.
2. Pakistan has a line in very attractive men, from old heart-throbs such as Tariq Ali and Imran Khan to a younger generation such as Lahore’s most happening export to Bollywood, Ali Zafar.
Outlook India recently ran a fascinating piece about the film history of Peshawar: Shashi Kapoor and Shahrukh Khan’s families were from this region. I very much hope that Sanjeev Bhaskar won’t mind if I put his handsome features down to west Punjab, where his family lived for centuries (his father’s ancestral village was Badhoki Gosaiyan).
And you will be hard pressed to find sweeter coverage than the respectful and affectionate writing about women in the weekend papers.
3. Pakistan has a varied and lively media, though perhaps not always on the side of the angels. But probably more than India, it has a range of sophisticated English-language newspapers (firmly on the side of the angels), including Najam Sethi’s PEN Award-winning Friday Times and Karachi’s Dawn. (Their closest competitors in India are Vinod Mehta’s Outlook India and the Hindu.) Both are written in classic, poised prose and boast incisive columnists as well as world-class books, arts and cultural coverage.
In Mohammed Hanif, Ali Sethi, Mohsin Hamid and Kamila Shamsie, Pakistan has a growing raft of writers (some of them Harvard-educated) who explore political and social themes.
4. The country survives daily life on humour, a curious cross-blend of the subcontinental and something rather like Oxbridge Private Eye. But if in the west the well of ribaldry comes from the misfortune of others, in Pakistan, the humour is rather more subtly how people try to find their way out of that misfortune.
It’s a richer hoard altogether that provides endless material at social gatherings, as well as for TV star transvestites such as Begum Nawazish Ali.
Over the border in India, the vaudeville slapstick of Mr Bean appeals greatly to audiences. Pakistan finds itself closer to Yes Minister.
5. Pakistanis adore their children: to be born into a settled family in the subcontinent is to enter a very happy world of love and adoration. Only Italians compare in their child-worship. It’s not such a strange thing to mention, because in the west there are still hints of Victoriana in our upbringing — don’t talk with your mouth full, don’t point, it’s rude to stare, say you’re sorry.
If you’re a boy in Pakistan or India, you’re on a winning ticket. Not only will be you adored and pampered, but you’ll be allowed just as rich an emotional life as the girls. By contrast, British boys are expected to rein it in. Pakistani fathers are proud as Punch of their girls and their ability to outshine the boys with top marks at school and university.
6. It is a country that thrives on mixed metaphors. So, for those to the west of the border, the song I choose for you is the hauntingly beautiful “Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaye to kya hai” (“What Is This World to Me?”).
It comes from the film about mistaken identity and lack of life’s essentials Pyaasa (Thirst, 1957), directed by and featuring Guru Dutt, a Hindu whose melancholy perhaps made him an honorary subcontinental Muslim. The melody was written by S D Burman (a Bengali Hindu), the lyrics were written by the Urdu poet Saahir (Abdul Hayee, a Punjabi Muslim) and they were sung by Mohammed Rafi (another Punjabi Muslim). You can watch it here.
It’s worth remembering that although the song does not have a happy ending, the film does.
-via http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/08/-9
Catrina luke is a London-based journalist writing for The Guardian newspaper. It is a very interesting article and shows what Pakistan is really about other than bombs going off in cities and extremists roaming the countryside. Pakistan’s image has taken a battering in the international media, albeit some of of it completely unjustified, but on the whole it is refreshing to see someone speak in this manner about our country. Yes we have a filthy rulers and politicians at the helm but apart from that Pakistan has a wonderful heritage and history to be extremely proud of and it will yet create more history which people will write about in the near future, inshallah. Pakistan Paendabad.
Ali Alamzeb
Oops! Apologies, the name of the journalist is Catriona Luke – spelling error! Thank you.
I am so happy to see that foreigners can see what we can see as true Pak patriots! I especially like the fact that she recognizes the export of Wahabism that has put a blemish on Pakistani society. We shall overcome all these obstacles! If we can survive 3 wars, losing part of our nation, corrupt evil politicians and zamindars, we can also develop into a shining example of nationhood!
i hate the way she keeps mentioning india
why do some people associate pakistan with india? india is in china’s league now
@ Nik
Nope… not yet mate…..
got a long way to go. There’s the small matter of poverty that you must adjust first before you can take it to the next level. Eradicating poverty should be your priority, not becoming a regional power – that will come with social and economic development anyway, i.e it’s a process of natural progression. Just make sure you don’t get carried away and burst your balloon 
Take it easy.
Ali Alamzeb
i wouldnt worry about it much
http://www.ncaer.org/downloads/MediaClips/Press/ET-Indiahasmorerichpeoplethanpoornow.pdf
Do you still have that complex??!!
Yes, he does! “Why do people associate Pakistan with India”??? Well, he thinks they should associate Pakistan with Ecuador!!! LOL!
no moron. i just dont like india and pakistan being in the same sentence
Ooooh! We get sensitive don’t we?!! You’re the moron if that’s what you think, because they are linked whether idiots like you approve or not!
@nik
Hey moron! If you don’t like Pakistan and India being in the same sentence, then quit coming to this site! Simple but complicated for minds like yours!
u idiots with ur inferiority complex keep writing sh*t about us. learn from indians. do we make hate websites about pak or china? we use our time to study china and learn, which is why the world calls us the next superpower
@ Nik (sweat dreamer of india),
AT the time of Pakistan independence in 1947, Pakistan was a raw land with few local factories in 3 to 4 big cities such as Lahore, Faislabad, Karachi etc. The remaining Pakistan was a backward – the Pakisatan land was mainly used for forces to stay and training (garrisons). There was no organized industry which India already had. There was no weapon industry, india had three. No steal mill (which is backbone of country’s economy), india already had. There was no arigation system except punjab area close to indian punjab (which then built world’s largest canal arigation system), while india already had large arigation lands. India already had many industries and planned agricultural system, Pakistan didn’t. In 1999, Pakistani Rupees was stronger than indian rupees. Then what happaned… in last 10 years why india went up and Pakistan down??? War on Terror… caused this all. Pakistan has paid so far $45 billion out of own pockets for this war, instead for services and public sector. US aid is only like $1.5 million in one year. Dude, Pakisatan is Islamic country, no western country want an Islamic country to develop… u can see all arab (expect oil producing) are poor. Yes, india has hard working people… Pakistan has also hard working people. If a position opens in US/UK, there are 12-15 indians to apply as compared to 1 Pakisatani (population ratio)… so probability to get a job for indan is higher.
Indian economy was very much supported by US in last 10 years. US wants someone in south-asia region to compete China… that’s why indians are being shown dreams that they can compete China. Why US support in $ and outsourcing to india to compete China, why not Pakistan??? Because, first, Paksitan is Muslim country, they don’t want. 2nd, Israel has a great hold on US economy (US Federal board is owned by Jews of UK and Israel). Israel and India are united against Pakistan. So, economy holders of US are transferring $$ and out-sourcing jobs to india to strengthen.
Dude, whatever u said has a long history. It just didn’t happen. All is well planned. The people who r supporting india know that for how long they need india. Economic crises in US affected india directly, not Pakistan. Because Pakisatan already either has few jobs or not much US investment.
correction: $1.5 billion in one year not million.
@Nad,
You may be addressing this to Nik but people like him don’t care or appreciate what you say. Your comments are very true and sensible. I have learned from this and I do appreciate what you say. Thank you for educating all of us who listen.
Gets ur FACTS right before commenting.
pakistani currency was never stronger than Indias,i do agree that pakistani GDP growth rate was higher than indias till 1980s.
Secondly indian economy started to grow because of Liberalisation,not because of any american help.
america came to india after indian economy started growing.
and my bro,indians have the capability of converting the dream into reality (which accd to u is been shown by europeans).by 2030 on PPP our economy will be slightly lower than chinaese.
and pakistani economy was in mess since 1980s not because of war on terror.
And america has provide more tham 10 bn $ since so called war on terror started.
The problem with pakistan is,it always wants parity with india and instead of pumping those money in economy,spend it on purchases of weapons.
even in this article the world india is used as many times the word pakistan is used.
pakistan should get over their obsession with india.
And it is not that western countries does not want islamic countries to grow,look at middle east,they are only scared to invest in a volatile state.
Ignore the title of this video and all that is written in it, just watch it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VwWgpfx98U&feature=grec_index
These jack asses don’t represent Pakistan. And you pathetic indians can’t even produce good singers. Looks like billion indians are mostly genetic garbage or morons working in call centers and thinking they have already made it.
@Salman,
I didn’t even waste my time looking at this video. By your review, I’m glad I didn’t!
he represents the intelligent community of pakistan, which is why u dont like him.
WOW we are now talking about SINGERS HAHAHA
by the way, i’d rather be an indian call centre worker than a pakistani terrorist
You talk about hate sites but you’re the one who spreads hate with your childish name calling but of course, you’re Indian and you’re in league with China so you can’t see how stupid you are!
I never said i don’t like salman. You’re so dense you don’t even understand my posts!
I thought Indians are smart like the Chinese?!
i was not talking about ur post and no, avg indian iq is less than chinese
Don’t criticize us india, first look ur domain. In Pakistan, first such incident happened and india media started propaganda.. look what exact india is… In the same league of China… huh!!
http://www.club194.com/playvideo.aspx?pageId=4410
another pakistani anti india site? wow
anyway thanks for sharing the video. its amazing how indian media captures and reports EVERYTHING, including all the bad stuff in our country, this helps us correct our mistakes and become even stronger. ope u guys learn from us
thanks Nad
I don’t know for how long we shall continue to be pleased or disappointed about ourselves based on the judgement of westerners. How long we would allow ourselves to be judged by others before having confidence on our own opinions and intellectual abilities. This complex is rooted in subjugations centuries old but surely in this age of liberation one would have expected more objective comments than mere servile seconding and praising of her thoughts. I am sure if she’d said something negative about us and that had reached here all of those who are commending her would have started commenting about what is wrong with us…such a reactive nation we have become.
She wrote something nice. I agree with it. Stop taking yourself so seriously!
ALL MUSLMS LOVE PAKISTAN BUT COMMUNIST SHALL PROVE TO BE ITS SAVIOURS
No doubt! Pakistan avail all those things which like a dream for other nation particularly on educational and sports field. May Allah bless us and always keep in safe and sound.
THE TRUTH IS WE ARE A RESILIENT PEOPLE!! I AM SO PROUD TO BE OF PAK ORIGIN!
I THANK GOD AND WISH TO BE NO OTHER THAN PAKISTANI BLOODED!
DID WE NOT GET THROUGH ALL THE CALAMITIES OF THE PAST INCLUDING THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE 5 YEARS AGO?!!!
YES WE DID!
WE’LL GET THROUGH THESE FLOODS!
NO DOUBT!
GOD BLESS PAKISTAN!
AMEEN!
Talibans are not Wahabi but of Deobandi Maslak. There is nothing like al-qaida. It is just the media perception. Al-Qaida does not exists. You poor mushrik rats so affraid of Quran-o-Sunna. So found of Shirk or Biddat. Grave Worshipers. May Allah curs you if don’t like to give you Hadaya.
Typical small minded Wahabit speaking.
@Mir Hamman Zafar,
“centuries-old subcontinental Sunni Sufi mysticism” is not grave worshipping, shirk or biddat, you Moron. Get an education, read a book like ‘ Kashful mahjoob’ and ‘tazkira-e-Awliya’ if you actually want to learn about Islam and the way it spread in the Indian sub-continent, instead of relying on trashy websites full of Wahhabi BS.
Atleast i like media like this PKKH where each and every comment has been respected and published. Why i am commenting this because although i m India i always visit this site to know news from pakistan and pakistan viewpoint over the issue in India. I have seen several online newspaper in Kashmir which is always propagating only one side of even mostly anti india. Even visitor cooment agaisnt their view they are never been publish. In this matter i always admire this site for considering openion of each and every person.
Good Work. PKKH
@Wisdom,
It is people like you and Amused whom I can respect and appreciate.
that is true
Don’t criticize us india, first look ur domain. In Pakistan, first such incident happened and india media started propaganda.. look what exact india is…. huh!!
http://www.club194.com/playvideo.aspx?pageId=4410
Looks like you are the latest “Copy & paste” resident expert…