Goodnews.pk was recently sent a letter written by Tony Lazaro, a visiting consultant to Pakistan, who wrote this in response to a very negative Time Magazine cover story about Karachi. Behold, for every bad news, there is an equal and opposite Good News! 🙂
The Editor, Times 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 Lazaro
Managing Director
Rising Stars Management Group
Tel: 02 8824 7000
Fax: 02 8824 7766
www.risingstars.com.au
goodnews.pk 
Tony – thank you!
As an alumnus of NUST and a resident of Karachi, your defence on our behalf just made my day. 🙂
Thanks a bunch!
Great letter! It is high time us Pakistanis doubled our efforts to let the world know who we actually are. In one way or the other we are ambassadors for our homeland and we must portray a good image by our acts and deeds.
Goodnews.pk you are doing a great job!
Beautifully written!
Thanks Tony.I as a Karachiite really am Honored, that someone’s hospitality left an impression so deep on you to talk about.
Karachi, Karachi hai! 😉
Thank you Mr. Lazaro for presenting the real yet hidden Pakistan.
Thumbs up Uzma!
B R A V O my friend . At 76 I begin to see a ray of HOPE . With improved leadership the seeds already there and lying dormant ,
will BLOSSOM.
Adi Viccaji.
We need your wisdom Mr. Viccaji – please keep commenting on the site and feel free to write to us at: news@goodnews.pk
WOW. Inspirational words Sir
Your words Just rekindled my faith in Pakistan
Just shows that the Glass is still half full and there is light at the end of the Tunnel
Thank you! Western media is bent upon giving Pakistan a bad image and It is about time our ( Pakistani) media too pays heed to this and reports about our success stories……
There are countless success stories – at Goodnews.pk sometimes we have to pick and choose because there are so many! 🙂
Thank you for writing this article. A lot of us want to make a difference but not many people take the time out to do anything about it!
Hopefully people will catch on to sharing the positive that is happening in Pakistan. Here is a story of an NGO that I would like to share with you which is making a huge difference in community building and women empowerment through building schools in the low lying areas of Pakistan; they could be slums in the cities or villages.
The name of the organization is The Citizens Foundation (TCF) who in just over a decade have become the largest charity in the Education sector in South Asia:
As a Canadian of Pakistani origin, I got involved with the TCF Canada Chapter and am a proud to be part of this NGO because of the dedication, commitment that I see filtering through the top and the transparency with which the organization works.
http://tcfcanada.org/
There are several other stories to be told such as TCF….I hope people start showing the positive side of Pakistan.
Thanks for sharing great info about TCS Lubna!
The response is really appreciable and just against the biased opinion of the rest of the world against our country Pakistan. Thank you so much for this support! I am just speechless and so much grateful to you Mr. Lazaro! May God bless you!:)
Amen!
Thank you Tony for making us believe as a nation that we are not less than any other developed country. The world today is highlighting only the bad aspects of Karachi/Pakistan. We have many more good things to potray but its all politics to downgrade the country at its worst and such articles are motivating.
Thumbs up!
I called Tony today. It was a pleasure talking to him. He will soon make a video too. Looking forward to meeting him soon in Sydney
Must have been great. Hope we can brainstorm new ways to make impact here.
Thanks TONY
Hi Guys. Tony will be in Pakistan from 19th -29th March 2012 and he will be visiting different universities in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
You can catch up with him at LUMS or Karachi University
Well Pakistan is the most misinterpreted country in the world.
Thankyou very much sir its an honour to be your host as a patkistani thanks for your support for us
Great to have you on board Miqdad!
I feel very happy & honoured after reading your letter…. thank you very much for raising voice for us, Pakistanis never forget their helping hands
The negativity of our media is a constant struggle to hinder the progress and development of Pakistan! We really need a “wAKE UP” call – the entire country! Shame on us!
-Naima.
Thank you Tony Lazaro it’s a great article we need people like you to support us morally and make a positive image of ours we have great news but some how the electronic and print media don’t present us positive,, great job thank you plz visit Pakistan more often !
thanx a lot tony…..i spent 47 long years of my life in karachi serving textile industry as an engineer….i am pampered to read your review….we rose just from a scratch….i ended up as techical director of a large towel industry exporting mainly to usa….part of think tank team as you have played a positive role in encouraging us…..stay blessed