Equity Editor Paul Hickins shares his experience of an enjoyable visit to Pakistan  

 

A few months ago Paul Hickin, equity editor working in City visited Pakistan to attend the wedding of one of his friends of Pakistani origin.  After  his visit  he thinks that Pakistan is a much more liberal, modern and fun place than what many people think about  it  or how  it  is  portrayed through  media. He spent his time in Lahore and Faisalabad attending various ceremonies involved in the Pakistani  wedding, called Mayun, Mehndi, Nikah and Rukhsati at  the wedding day and afterwards, Valima – a reception  by the groom. For him,  the Pakistani wedding was  full of  entertainment. It had a jubilant atmosphere, with songs, dances, jokes and food that made his stay in Pakistan a happy one.

 

The warmth and hospitality of the people are among the traits most liked by him. Paul has developed a liking for Pakistani food and even tried street food which he said was not only well priced but also fresh and reasonably safe to eat.  He says Pakistani food and culture have distinct qualities and features and are different from those of other countries of the subcontinent in many ways. He feels that Pakistan needs to come out from the shadow of India as the country possesses its own strengths and qualities.

 

Paul really appreciated the mixture of tradition with modernity both culturally and architecturally, with the presence of historical buildings of the Mughal era and British empire and bazaars alongside modern shopping malls, with shops that could be compared to  those in Westfield of London.  Similarly, family traditions are combined with liberalism and he was able to see on many occasions women doing shopping and dining out in groups happily, without being escorted or chaperoned by men.

 

In Paul’s opinion, when people talk about Pakistan they fail to differentiate between trouble effected border areas and other cities.  The practice of religion as part of culture also needs to  be differentiated from  extremism.  Paul thinks Pakistan needs to counter some of the negative media coverage, highlighting the cultural variety and interesting historical and modern mix that makes the country a relatively undiscovered gem for most Europeans

 

 

April 14, 2010

 

Last updated: 14 April 2010