Don’t be crazy- media will run out of business if you start voting!

The media in Pakistan has been my true companion. Latest gift it gave me was four hours of non-stop entertainment by one of the servants of the nation; if that’s why we voted him we made the right choice. His press conference took the nation’s (or at least my) mind off the depression all around and his words served as brain-massagers. I am so glad that we vote each election so that his party stays in the light. Because we know the people of his city would always sleep with peace and a smile on their faces as long as he has power. I have heard he sends an invitation and ensures that at least one member from each invited family comes to witness the high spirited and refreshing course of fun filled activities. I tell you, had M.A. Jinnah been alive today he would have felt unworthy of the title of Quaid. What melodious voice, fearlessness and empathy our leader has for his people. Time will fall short and pages will shrink if I continue talking about our patriotic leader.

Therefore I will resume talking about my very important friend, the media. Media is window of a country showing to the world what’s happening in that particular country. Our window has a poster, showing a swim suit fashion show where men and women are discussing over a cup of espresso how to get this much needed product to the flood struck. Young girls and boys can be seen smoking sheesha and playing cards in the back ground. This fills my heart with my pleasure because problems faced by family should not be brought out in public and should be solved by family guided by the head, based on self-sustainability and hard work. Our national servants, in this regard, are in no way behind. They make sure that do not in any way become an object of pity. And when other countries offer us cloth our national servants cut it according to our need and make sure we go back to them for a new suit also rather than switching to local fabric.        

Besides, these qualities possessed by my best friend, who puts imported coat, it has a very good sense of judgment. It will always give me the news I want, rather need, to hear. For instance, these days it keeps on highlighting how awesome our current government is, their achievements and affairs are aired every now and then. But it very effectively almost eradicates the information about the voter registration. So what if the date ends in less than 20 days? It’s not important for us to know because evidently we have done the correct hiring. In fact, not even ‘we’, because ‘we’ do not vote. So what if our elected national servant changes the direction of the flood towards a whole village to save their castle? That’s a perfect decision and that is why it is not important to vote.

My unbiased friend manages its resources very well. No ad campaigns will be made to create awareness about the unimportant issue of voting, like our crazy neighbor who cannot help themselves from making such campaigns. Such xenocentrics! But just so that people do not say we are not friendly we show their movies. Let alone, having programs on importance of voting our media runs one odd ad at 2 a.m. so that the message gets to the masses. Like my village watchman, our media also tries to keep us alert as they also believe in the same tag line ‘JAGTAY REHNA, saday taay na rehna’. (Stay awake, do not rely on us)

30^th Sep is the last date of registering you vote, if you are slightly patriotic and want to see better Pakistan, please get your vote registered and exercise your right. Because those who believe media is their friend; their definition of friend is ‘a friend with weed is a friend indeed’.

An open letter to the liberal media artists in Pakistan

Dear media people,

Almost a decade ago, liberty of Pakistani media was a breath of fresh air that was seen as the purest source of information. Today, the image has changed drastically but still it is more watched and discussed. Despite the question on the ethical code of conduct followed (or not followed) by Pakistani media. Despite the criticism of playing with human emotions to cash ratings. Despite being labeled insensitive and inhumane, time and time again. Pakistani media is watched, loved and growing popular day by day.

Today, I am not writing to you to talk about what the ethical boundaries of the competent talk show hosts are. Partly because I know the race of gathering the most eyeballs by being creative has blinded us of much more serious concerns. I want to talk to you about the entertainment that our media is providing. It is no doubt both well produced and well received. But is the purpose of showing these sit-coms, game shows and opinion shows only to entertain? If the answer is yes, it grieves me.

Dear reader, There is a reason why media has been called pillar of a nation. And underestimating, misusing or exploiting its power is both foolish and absurd. If you are portraying a girl dressed in branded western clothes, talking transcendently in a perfect English accent and chewing a bubble gum as ‘cool’, something somewhere is very wrong. Why would you do that? Do not get me wrong I encourage learning English because it is need of time. But my point is our media can also portray a girl wearing nice eastern dress, talking politely in Urdu (Pakistan’s national language) and chewing paan as ‘cool’, also. This is the power that rests with media; they can change the perceptions or even mindsets of nations.

Rather than showing how amazing U.S.A is or Paris is, why does not our TV shows us how beautiful Pakistan is? And trust me the natural beauty that God has blessed Pakistan with is breath taking. To reinforce my point I would like to pin point how much our government is doing for its maintenance. Confused? Do not be they are doing nothing and still we have the highest polo ground in the world.  

Pakistanis are highly emotional; capitalize on it not by arousing rage but by strengthening their patriotism. Show how beautiful Pakistan is through your dramas, show how culturally rich Pakistan is with people of diverse cultures making one Pakistan. It is important to tell what wrong Pakistanis have done but it is also important what much Pakistanis have achieved. Jehangir Khan has a winning streak of 555 consecutive matches in squash. It stands a world rank even today. 

Majority of the news, talk shows and debates broadcasted are spreading negativism. Not much you can do there, reply to your assumed innocent response, “We are only showing what’s happening”. The entertainment area is completely open to changes. Rather than switching to how our neighbor country’s style of dramas, why do not you work on making your own dramas even better? Because even though Bollywood is very developed and popular Pakistani dramas are way ahead of Indian dramas.

Dear reader, I am a Pakistani and I love my country and the only reason I write to you is because I want your help in making other Pakistanis realize that they can change the image of Pakistan by working hard and loving their country. Because I know for a fact that not all Pakistanis can even dream of shifting to another country, if God forbid a war starts. And if things are not changed, the hatred is going to lead us there, eventually. We are Pakistanis whether we like it or not, and we can only improve things in Pakistan because we are the ones who are responsible for things today.

I hope to see TV doing more and better for Pakistan in future.