http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C03%5C12%5Cstory_12-3-2007_pg7_9
Pakistani diplomats in the US, who toil ceaselessly to counter critical newspaper editorials by writing plaintive letters to editors, seem to be stumped by the ad, which usually airs in the morning. A 30-second prime time spot on CNN can cost as much as $ 20,000.
What "stumped by the ad". They bloody well do something about it than just being stumped - but then why doesn't it surprise me?
I think Pakistani/Pakistani-American private citizens have done, and are doing a far better job than our so called diplomats who have the official authority, and are recognized as the official authority to represent the country, but in essence haven't lived up to the bargain - though you may ask what bargain? Well that is another issue for another RZone blitz.
Seriously if they are stumped then let us, the private-citizens through our various vehicles such as
AOPP,
PAKPAC,
PANA, PADF,
OPEN,
PakSEF,
IOPWE etc lend them a hand. Many of the named organizations may not have the political clout or resources to foot the bill for $20k ads on CNN everyday - but we certainly have the passion and commitment to promoting Pakistan as a progressive nation that it is - a country with unbounded opportunities - a country ripe for foreign investment - a nation with growing and vibrant economy. A nation where the CEOs of some of the leading fortune companies in the U.S. make it a point to praise the countries leadership in their company meetings.
Fact of the matter Pakistani's and Pakistani-Americans need to act now with a major nationwide campaign to correctly brand Pakistan. For the last 12 months I have been harping this on various discussion groups, reciving nothing but lip service acknowledgment. From AOPP to PAKPAC to PADF - the organizations where formed with this particular mandate seemed to have failed to mobilize the vast majority of Pakistani and Pakistani-Americans.
Though, you have to give credit to AOPP and OPEN two organizations which have stepped up the challenge, and have in fact mobilize the Pakistani/Pakistani-American community in a nationwide effort to re-brand Pakistan. AOPP has in fact has been organizing
Branding Pakistan events all across the Eastern Seaboard of the United States - from New York to Washington DC. On the other hand
OPEN Silicon Valley has for the last three years successfully organized Business and Technology moots where promoting Pakistan as an investment friendly country has been on top of its agenda.
The bottom-line is Pakistan has enemies, both internal and external, however the passion and enthusiasm to keep the idea Pakistan alive is a trait ingrained in every Pakistanis DNA.
What is needed is a serious unified re-branding effort on the part of the entire Pakistani diaspora. The Foreign Office is not equipped to handle negative propaganda such as this led by
Syed Jamaluddin ; or by others such as
World Sindhi Institute or the
World Sindhi Congress. These are three organizations with a small following, but have bloating expense accounts. Surely we, the mainstream Pakistani and Pakistani organizations can as a united front nuetralize these few anomalies. A sustained nationwide media campaign is in order - daily ADs in all the major U.S. newspapers, daily Prime Time ADs on national TV, weekly Branding Pakistan information sessions and cultural events in every nook and cranny of America. The idea is to promote the honest by God truth about what Pakistan is and who Pakistani and Pakistani-Americans are?
Copyright (c) Abdulrahman Rafiq
PPP stalwart and cabinet member Sherry Rehman congratulated Mr. Zardari on his election win calling it a "victory for democracy."
