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At least we are not Dubai
We haven’t got a lot to be thankful for these days in Pakistan.
But at least we are not Dubai.
Fed up with...
George Fulton is a freelance broadcast and print journalist.
We haven’t got a lot to be thankful for these days in Pakistan.
But at least we are not Dubai.
Fed up with loadshedding, bombs, and TV cynicism pervading Pakistan, I recently escaped to Dubai for a holiday. Big mistake. Huge. Ten days later I returned, gasping for Karachi’s polluted, but far sweeter, air. Dubai may have the world’s tallest building and the world’s largest shopping mall, but it also has the world’s tiniest soul. It’s a plastic city built in steel and glass.
It has imported all the worst aspects of western culture (excessive consumption, environmental defilement) without importing any of its benefits (democracy, art). This is a city designed for instant gratification a hedonistic paradise for gluttons to indulge in fast food, fast living and fast women. It’s Las Vegas in a dish dash. You want to eat a gold leaf date? Munch away.
You want to drink a Dhs 3,000 bottle of champagne? Bottoms up. You want a UN selection of hookers at your fingertips? Tres bien. Let’s start with the malls. These cathedrals of capitalism, these mosques of materialism are mausoleums of the living dead. Slack jawed zombies roam around consuming food, clothes and electronics in a desperate attempt to fill the emptiness of their existence.
Whilst at the Mall of the Emirates the azan goes off. Nobody appears to move to the prayer room; everyone’s too busy performing sajda before Stella McCartney, genuflecting before Gucci, and prostrating themselves at Prada. With Dubai, one recalls F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
The people are modern day Gatsbys, buying shirts that they will never wear and books they will never read. Like Fitzgerald’s roaring 20s America, Dubai is a moral failure a society obsessed with wealth and status. Everyone is trying to keep up with the Jones’ or the Javaids. You see the goras with their perma-tans, streaked highlights and their flabby cleavages.
The upwardly mobile South Asian man prances around wearing a silly shirt with a large picture of a polo player on a horse, whilst their women wear oversized sunglasses and carry oversized handbags. And the Arabs walk about with enough gold bling to blind you at ten paces. But not everything that glitters is gold. And Dubai is not only morally bankrupt it is also financially bankrupt.
Lately, Dubai, and its ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Maktoum have been compared to another piece of literature — Percy Shelley’s famous poem Ozymandias, which illustrates the inevitable decline of all leaders and the empires they build. Shelley finishes it thus: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair! Nothing beside remains.
Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away With $80b of debt and a stock and property market that has tanked, the comparisons with Ozymandias are apt. Abu Dhabi may have bailed them out but can Dubai survive as a regional hub in the long-term? Or will this city of hubris built on sand and folly sink back into the dunes a desert mirage that evaporates once the public relations people, the speculators and the tourists disappear?
So for all you naysayers that bemoan Pakistan and its numerous problems please temper your pessimism. Take time to celebrate our cultural, religious, linguistic plurality and richness. Stop the cynicism coursing through your corroded veins. For all its inadequacies, at least we have a democracy.
For all its irresponsibility, at least we have a robust media. For all the police corruption, at least we are not a police state. For all our littering, at least we have paper wallahs. Remind yourself that at least we have a heart. At least we have a soul. At least we are not Dubai.
Read Conor Purcel’s rebuttal, “At least we are Dubai”.
Reader Comments (356)
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Well said George.
I have lived in the UAE for 25 years, and now I am in Karachi working for a private TV Channel for last 10 years.
I left UAE when the boom had started, but have visited a couple of time to see the changing faces of Dubai.
My Observation: Its all fake and temporary…
At the same time, Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE with rich source of Oil and enough that its feeding all the other 6 emirates along with itself is a better example of growth of an oil rich state.
What I have seen is that Abu Dhabi and its people still have some sort of humanity, thanks to Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Further, Abu dhabi has believed in growth but on a pace that is safe.
It was Abu Dhabi that accommodated a percentage of people who lost their jobs from Dubai. A lot of people still live in Abu Dhabi and commute to Dubai as its cheaper and faster.
Abu Dhabi has picked up its pace of growth, last year they held the F1 race and for that the infrastructure of built with keen focus on travel and tourism and specially traffic ease.
twofour54, another step forward for Abu Dhabi when it comes to developing a media city, where the focus is in long term planning, unlike any major commercially viable development by Dubai.
No this comment is not about how good Abu Dhabi is VS Dubai, but its about highlighting that if Dubai had taken steps that were slow and steady they would have never been in this economical, commercial and social SHOCK.Recommend
Articles like these lead to a reader losing all respect for the writer. Job well done, George!Recommend
As far as I know, Fulton takes holidays in Dubai regularly. Why is it then that this time his trip turned sour? Wasn’t Fulton also looking for a job here? I wonder how that went.
The fact is that Dubai is home to about a million Pakistanis who have chosen to live here, from the Maserati driving kind to the labourers. Perhaps Fulton could have been one of them.Recommend
Thats why we say that Karachi is the Heart of PakistanRecommend
George your analysis are no doubt based on facts, like Dubai is lacking in moral values and social norms and all that. But here you have to think that what is the position of Dubai in the world. A totally multicultural place, where people of all sort (esp. the rich one) go to have fun and to spend vacations. A place where people from all around the globe come just to relax, or to do shopping and to enjoy their life.
So why do you criticize a person wearing A shirt with a large polo emblem, and a lady with a big size shades and bag?? Of course if you are out for shopping and to spend you vacations, definitely you will adopt the same behavior.
Won’t you??Recommend
Bravo George!!!!
Well said. The impression i have of Dubai from all the articles i have read about the place do valide your observations.
It appears to be an artificial plastic city tailor made for the “dubai challo” crowd from pakistan who are not able to travel elsewhere and are attracted by the meterialism of the place. This naturally means that the type of crowd Dubai attractes has no capacity to impart any soul to the city whatsoever and should best be avoided.
I visit pakistan nearly every year and love it. I have passed through Dubai a few time but have never stopped over. Nor shall I. No point wasting time in a soul less city full of empty headed desis.
And thanks once again for validating my impressions of the city!Recommend
Its a good piece of writing. And the fact is that every person as the right to have their own opinion based on their experience. However, I believe that its just not right to present a totally positive or totally negative picture of anything. Its best to express both pros and cons and then to leave it to people to decide what’s best for them.
So although I agree with George on some points, I also disagree with him on others.Recommend
Hi George
This is not fair as you were unable to raise real issues,if any. I was glad that my fellow Pakistanis comments are more thoughtful and mature as compare to the article itself, either they live in UAE or in Pakistan. Can you please explain what was the motive behind comparing Pakistan and Dubai.Recommend
Very well written, we don’t appreciate what we have got. The urdu saying “ghar ki murgh daal barabar” is spot on in this case.Recommend
Well Done george
Nice i went dubai last year its city of malls you cant live in freash air bcoz without AC its too hot Dubai Lost cultural values and pakistani also wants to follow same
When we lost our culture we lost our identityRecommend
two thumbs up!!Recommend
Hi George aka Patriotic White Pakistani,
With all due respect to your proffession and ‘soul-less’ experience in UAE, I must add that your article only made me love Dubai even more!
Yeah so fine the bubble bursted, people lost their jobs, others are struggling, and many are excessively enjoying!
How can you in anyway make judgements on city that managed to bring the best DIVERSITY in its city, and not to mention a good diversity balance in 100s of Multinational companies. Do you realise the only reason you are getting all these responses is because you are with the Pakistanis! Try saying a thing or two bad….and see how much SOUL if left inside of you to spend a day there!!!!!!!!!!!!and this is true to any place!
I was recently in Pakistan, yes I had the most amazing time of my life being scared every minute, fine, there is culture there–but that’s only because there is no diversity!!! We have a culture of our own here in dubai which is made up of 50+nationalities and I must add, its got its ups and downs but today, if I have to settle anywhere in the World, I would have no qualms unlike you who just have to visit Dubai and adhered a cultural shock.
LET ME SHARE A PAKISTANI EXPERIENCE WITH YOu——
In Dec 09 I went to Pakistan for my best friends wedding, during my 3 day visit- there were two MAJOR bomb blasts within 5-10mins proximity from where I was; at the Parlour with my friend getting her wedding make up done, so one girl gets a text of a bomb blast- announces it..causes barely a min of noise and everyones back to your laughing and dishdashing themsleves with make up!!!!! That 1min chaos was just to make a call to check THEIR own family is well, and so what SOUL are we talk off here? May I know. I being a dubain was disturbed for the rest of my time there, so was my friend and her sister (x-dubaians) soo I am not accusing Pakistan for being soul-less, but where’s the soul in the above situation? I am being judgemental here only because you judged harsly.
How can u judge or rather expect 10,000 people in a Mall to be doing the same thing, that is praying?…have you heard of women who are PMSing, or heard of people who need a wash before praying? Or heard of NON-muslims, or people who don’t pray at all, or atheists?
Rather have you heard of another 20+malls in Dubai???????
Mall of Emirates let me add, is an attraction to tourist like you WHO have no clue what they are upto! So how did u judge they were all locals?
Your judgements are truly scary. You have judged dubai as a whole and bunched in up in one article!!!!! How is that fair in any way.
Oh and don’t even start with our Police! They are the best in the world, and the best can even be the worse. If you are in the right side of law! They will fight for you. I can count on them 24/7, and even if this is the only reason I would stay in Dubai. So be it! I am secured.
Yes with financials going down, crime does start but even within crime, we are proudly 70% safe!
So the real estate bubble bursted! So what? America as a city Bursted-why not talk about it?
Did you think of the gains of this burst for people like us here? Rentals have become affordable for one. All these outsiders foreign people kept blowing in the bubble, not many of us local people.
I have been here for 24 years, there’s a beautiful soul in this city and that is off a blend of different souls….
After a long tiring day or awaited weekend, its sad to go to Mall of the Emirates and watch people like you ‘Staring’ at our Pradas or Louis Vuittons!
So we are people of class, we have our own class, its our own money, you don’t bring it to our plate…you have no right to judge how much people consume….
You would be saddened to know that when Pakistanis come here litrelly flock in to shop all over Dubai.
I am sorry your article FAILED my eyes. Not because I love Dubai, which I don’t 100%, but your Hate for it made me realise how unbaised I must have been the past.
Your arguments were totally unreasonable. As much as feel bad for people in Pakistan for going thru all that they do in regards to security, how can you compare it to the glamour of Dubai?
How can you compare loss of a 100 lives to prada or materialism?
People in pakistan are living and experiencing the pain of death every moment of their life…even the most happy, safe, and sophisticated families are living the pain of the country. How can you write such an article and let the politicians or terrorist discuss and laugh about it?
Something needs to be done to stop all this. And the first step is unity…
We dubaians, or some of us; including me love Pakistan for its culture, food etc but I would not voluntary move there at the cost of pain and bloodshed.
Instead of hating Dubai, I think its important too do some work within Pakistan to somehow help the country come back to its true spirit. George if this one article can get you 100s of comment, just imagine what an article to stop all the bloodshed would do. Are you also scared of losing your life?
TanziRecommend
The author has given only one side of the picture and even with the biased approach. Although everything that has been said may be true, but. This is not, the only side of the whole picture. Look at the positive side that being the police state they are providing the safety and security to human beings, they are providing whatever “they” want, nobody is forcing you to go to pubs run for woman, families are living there earning out of their efforts and capability. Now comparing Pakistan; no doubt that moral values still prevails there because Pakistan is a Nation, Dubai is not!! Dubai is artificially created world where you will find very few trades of life not all, and there is no interconnection between those as well, every one is living their life with making no interference in each others life, and making no linkages with each other therefore society is not integrated the way a nation could be. Anyways this the most of people want so they have created their own heaven on earth!!!!!Recommend
People make the place. George, if you had a few of your best friends in Dubai, you may have enjoyed your stay there. Having said that, it goes without saying that Pakistan has more to offer – good and bad. Your article was well written and it was a pleasure reading the tsunami of beautifully worded reactions in its wake.Recommend
Nice one George!
Have to appreciate what we have got in PakistanRecommend
Thumbs up! for George.
Thankyou for this eye opening essay. We Pakistani’s who born here in Pakistan, always crtique its problems, load shedding, curruption, and loads of other problems.
But you being a converted Pakistani feel more proud of being a Pakistani. Love you for that. We should also see things positively instead seeing only the negatives.Recommend
Very True.
Good Job. Thumbs Up..Recommend
Have had the unfortunate experience of visiting Dubai a few times (but not out of choice). I could not agree more with the views expressed by George Fulton. Dubai is a cultural wasteland dedicated to flashy consumerism. However, for those who have never read a book in their lives and are obsessed with shopping until they drop, it is a perfect place.
I have worked and lived in Europe as well as the East. Even in the notorious city of Bangkok prostitutes are largely confined to certain areas of the city and no one would dare take them to any top quality hotel. Not so in Dubai where to my surprise these ‘ladies’ were visible even in the 6 star hotels. The cultural crudity of the city is quite extraordinary.Recommend
Dubai is a city which has developed in such a way that it a model city for any other city in the region. Regional Governments look upto Dubai shyly and with envy to match infrastructure and implement policy changes. Its a city where almost 160 nationalities including citizens of INdia and Pakistan who work harmonously in tandem at all times. Unlike in Pakistan in Dubai it does not matter if you are a Choudhry, Malik, Khan, Maqsi, Soomro, Smith, Mai, Radhkov etc
Dubai has no problems for instance with Electricity, Security, Peace, Religion, Dining, Sport, Fast Cars, Travel Connections, Shopping, Taxes, Cleanliness, Healtcare, Education, Quality of Life, Technology, Innovation, Leadership, Commerce.
For any city in Pakistan to even think of matching Dubai’s vibrancy it will take many years. Dubai has its own unique culture and no other city in world offers this and this is not any individual comment rather its a fact. Dream on.Recommend
***Outclass comments by Umer Zubair Awan.***
Aditionally I would take the liberty to say few more words here.
Being a Pakistani and living in Dubai, I would call this column a total howler (sorry for being blunt here), especially when you compared it with Karachi. On the other hand I would call it a British conspiracy against Dubai. **“George ka Pakistan”** and **“ Kiran aur George”** does not justify your journalism knack.
Dubai is one of the fast paced cities in the world, along with Karachi, Mumbai, New York, Tokyo, London and few others. Now when you talk about economical calamity, then the verity is that it was fingered by Abu Dhabi, Bahrain & Qatar precisely. Anyways, this would not last long.
The only annoyance you spoke of is about Islam & Muslims. Yes, they have enough money, that’s why mosques are quite fancy, but ultimately they are predestined for worship only. Please do visit Dubai again with fresh brain. If you didn’t get a job here, doesn’t mean that Dubai is a failed state.
Please try to respect at least fair journalism, if not religion & cultures.Recommend
Dubai a copy of sin city was built on the backs of poor hourly laborers from India* Pakistan*Bangladesh. The rich Arabs tend to help their Muslim brothers by using their hard labor and paying them with wages which would be considered slave pay.
But yet there is little or no outrage to the corrupt Arabs that have built a playground for the rich.
ALL PEOPLE should boycott this “garden of evil” since it only benefits the rich corrupt Arabs and destroys the poor who built it.
All Pakistanis that live in Dubai are cowards, that instead of helping their own country have fled.
I know there is no comparison for all the fear and safety issues, who are to blame for all of you living in Dubai and not having the moral spirit to fight the crazies who are killing us?Recommend
Good One!
Mr. Fulton hasn’t lost any of his loved one or a whole of his family in a bomb blast, lives in a nice house, with a good job, is able to buy meat even if it Rs.1000/KG, doesn’t have to tell his hungry children that no food today because we cannot afford it. Commenting from air-conditioned room, on a nice comfortable computer chair with kick ass DSL connection is easy.
This article is not only away from reality, but also reflects weak perception of the author….
He has raised some serious issues related to religion…..My question is, being in media, doesn’t he sees what’s going on in Pakistani fashion industry??? I have seen Pakistani women wearing minis in front of millions of Na Mehram men without feeling bad about it…….
He is talking about people not paying attention to Namaz, but at least you get to here azan in a malls here. I don’t remember loud azan in Park Tower or Forum. What people do after listening to azan is non of your business George!….Let Allah (swt) deal with that…Why don’t you become a good muslim first before pointing fingers at anyone else..for all you know that these people who you are referring to in the mall went home and prayed…..
I know Dubai has issues, but so does rest of the world. If Dubai is crossing the limits of Besharmi, so is Pakistani women. Talking about champagne, you should travel Emirates Dubai -Khi which is less than 2 hours flight and see our Islamic fellow citizens in action who are consuming alcohol like its now or never….
Enjoyed reading the article…..fascinated by his patriotism being a Britisher….Weldon! George…..
Pakistan Zindabad!
Pakistan does have soul, Pakistan is the best and will remain the best…. but the article was a sheer non sense and a pointing finger spree…..
FAIL!!!Recommend
Lets not waist time by indulging in others domain .We will be much better,if we progress,be moderate and make pakistan ,a place to live happily .The solution is simple—–end corruption ,accountability of all-,selection and work on pure merit- ,and most important ,education for all .Unless we are educated ,we will remain and go down further .Lets become a NATION rather than being a POPULATIONRecommend
Great job George. You have revived my national spirit. Just when I thought I was lost in a pool of negativity, negativity which was coming from all directions, your article was like a cool breeze in a hot humid weather.
God bless you, God bless Pakistan!Recommend
Well written but to be honest very biased. I am originally from Karachi and would disagree with George on a few issues.
a) Dubai may not have a soul but at least it is one of the safest cities in the world. You can go to mosques without the fair of being bombed or choose to become a mall rat and yet feel safe. In Pakistan, unfortunately mosques and shopping malls are unsafe.
b) women are far safer in this part of the world as opposed to Pakistan.
c) Media might not be as robust as Pakistan but at least is not as vile as Pakistan’s. Case in point, channels such as Geo Tv. the only notable exception is Dawn News.
d) The police in Pakistan are to be feared off. There are no two ways about it.
e) hookers and alcohol thrive in dubai, whereas in Pakistan it happens behind the scenes.
However, in Pakistan there are a few things which Dubai or infact the UAE do not and probably cannot offer.
a)one does feel Ramadan in its true essence. Eid and other religious festivities are celebrated in high spirits.
b) There are multiple avenues of entertainment besides shopping malls. You have the desert, the mountains, the sea, and three vibrant cities with a rich history.
c) One of the best financial systems in Asia. Well structured and strong enough to withstand exogenous and endogenous shocks. Dubai is vanilla compared Karachi in this regard.
I personally believe its a matter of personal choice. Dubai can be sickening yet have an element of vibrancy and excitement. Karachi may have a soul and an element of organic life (compared to dubai’s plastic) but yet keep you wondering where its going to hit you next with its ills on an individual or collective level.
Its relative at the end of the day.Recommend
Georgie == 1
People dissing Georgie == 0
I have lived all my life in dubai and sadly still am.Recommend
FabolousRecommend
George,
Thought i admire your creative writing and as someone has mentioned, you have only shed light on the bad characteristics. I’ve been living in Dxb for the past couple of years, and I know a huge number of people who are not soulless!
Prostitution! give me a break, as if Pakistan is lacking in red light areas!
Police state… So what atleast theres a sence of security and safety.. I dont have to be scared everytime i take out an expensive cell phone in public..or be scared of bomb blasts at any crowded place.. and not report a crime thinking losing somehting is better then getting harrased by the police, even if one is a victim.
If there are the indulgent people who drink the 3000 dirham champagne, theres also a huge population which stays happy with a can of soda..
And tell me whats the diffence between hanging out at the Gucci store, or Rabi center at Tari road.. i rarely see people praying.. Shopping is shopping.. living abroad just gives us an oppertunity to be able to purchase better things.
Im a Pakistani and i love Pakistan.. Next time you go enjoy Dubai from an average persons point of view..Ive visited many middle eastern countries… UAE is by far the best!Recommend
Since I was born & raised most of my life here except for 10 years while I was in America I cant agree with who ever the writer is. I love Dubai I left America to be here. We have every thing here & thats what makes all other’s jelous. In Pak you have no Roads, no power, no water, no gas, no partol, & no Security. Moms are worried about the Kids that went to school if they will return or some bomb or some robber will kill them. No wonder in pak we are killing each other’s while the whole World watches & is happy. Just go the the Airport & you will see most of the people heading to Dubai are Pakis. If you like Pak so much then why u came to dubai. There are ppl in Pak who havent been out of their city & they love that fact. Before writing about the workers conditions you should realize that its not the Govt that is doing this its the companies & mostly owned by Pakis, Goras & some others. Govt can only do so much but its the ppl that pay well over 100K to come to Dubai just to work as a Construction worker. Be reminded most of them know the Plight of ppl in these jobs. In a nut shell. Dubai Govt made everything for the ppl. e.g Great Infstructure of roads Housing & many other amenities. There are malls & Mosques its the ppl that decide where they want to go. Most of the ppl here are outsiders. e.g 1.2 Mln Indians, 800K Pakis, 200K Goras. Ne way look at ones own contry b4 making long stories about other countries. Now let the battle of Comments begin…….Recommend
George,
While very noble of you to provide this uplifting message to Pakistan, you seem to fall short on a number of levels.
Pakistan is still a failing state, with a history of supporting terrorism, and a human rights record to shame any civilized state.
While Dubai has its share of vices, it at least provides its citizens with a decent level of security, stability and living standard. Dubai is only 40 years old, and like all cities, needs time to develop a “soul.” It’s a premature and highly biased and unfair judgement you make.
While not particularly “moral,” no state can possibly be evaluated ENTIRELY by its morality, in which case even Saudi Arabia would fall short given its very embarrassing human rights record. Dubai offers many expatriates who have no opportunities in their home countries a chance at a decent job, education and living standard.
Even Pakistan, however “soulful” and awesome, yet fails to do even that much for its own.Recommend
I really appreciate your obsession and perception George!Recommend
Interesting analysis. I enjoyed reading it~!Recommend
Nice work George, But remember we shall adore Islam and Islamic Customs, not democracy. As this is not Islam’s way anyway.Recommend
To All the Readers in Favor of This Article,
It was quite pleasing to see that there is a large number of people who encourged the writer on this story yet still apply to jobs in Dubai or one day look forward to living in Dubai. Well, this is to all those hypocrites…if you have such strong opinions then please do not try so hard to relocate from Pakistan to Dubai. Atleast then, the market of Dubai wouldn’t be SO saturated with all of you and eventually the economy will go back to its GLORY.
Thank you all in advance for abiding with these polite directions.Recommend
This shows that people in Pakistan aren’t good at anything except making bombs and terrorism!! So please leave the handling of media to other coutries.Recommend
George!
I loved ur article…to an extent very true indeed…I miss my country for whatever reason it is it is MY PAKISTAN,I can proudly call it my own… those ppl vouching for Dubai, I dare u to make one mistake n ull be kicked to where u belong n that is PAKISTAN or whichever countries citizenship u paid 4 I wud put it that way.
Our Desis r bigger than anyone here lol..I mean i ve been here since yrs, but how can they become a bigger gora than the goras?
Ohhh Pakistan this ohh Pakistan that…emirates hills, foreign passport,kitty parties, this get together that party…Goodness sake I ve heard alot of it, been there n done that! most of their designer bags n shoes r from meena bazar’s 1st hand copy immitations of designers lol… I ve been there too…but never had the gutts too buy something n lie that its real n not fake…
I know ppl from every part of this world but howcome they seem to be soo normal than ppl living here? yes We do have a better lifestyle n yes in terms of food water and all…but how cud u vouch for a country which is not even yours? v r what we r n we r Pakistanis..staying anywhere in the world for even 50 yrs u will always have the TAG.
Just appreciate where ur living n on the same side LEARN to appreciate little things about ur own country rather than degrading it in a forum where u know that 100ppl will put u down…
in the end whatever it is I am a Pakistani n I am proud of being one n yes..I am not one of those who feel embarrassed by revealing my identity n prefer ppl think Im some crude rude proud arab or whatever!Recommend
this is exactly what i felt when i visited Dubai. Thank God i live in Pakistan n i love it no matter what.Recommend
Thank you for this George!!!
I wrote my own analysis of what’s wrong with Dubai in an article: What Befell Dubai at http://www.schuitema.co.za/blog/?p=647.
What i am amazed at is how people still defend Dubai’s shameless hedonism and apathy! Its obviously the quintessential example of unsustainable greed.
thanks again!
Afia MansoorRecommend
Great site been reading and will add your site to mine.Recommend
Lovely. It took a Briton to stand up for Pakistan!Recommend
hey george I still have your DVD! sorry I didnt give it to you before I left…FOR DUBAI!! :)Recommend
PAKISTAN ZENDABAD (I LOVE MY PAKISTAN)Recommend
Well it seems George didnt get enough attention in Pakistan, considering how cultural he’s tried to be living in Pakistan so he decides to be a true patriot (to Pakistan). You live in Pakistan and sure u like it here, so do i but democratic we are not, votes are always rigged.. The government is a setup, seems like you’ve told us something about yourself instead. You dont really know Pakistan as well as the Pakistanis do and as for the UAE (Dubai) there are more foreign tourists like you who visit there as compared to the Pakistanis or the Indians for that matter. You hardly know Pakistan and 10 days in Dubai makes you an expert! Cheers TRIBUNE for letting a novice “Broadcast and print journalist” enlighten us with such insight!Recommend
Angoor khatay hainRecommend
CHACHA ,Angoor khatay Nahi,booooooooth katay hai , if blowing up our muslim bro in the mosque is our pakistan , than i am very
happy in this plactic world called dubai . my prays and best of wishes to all how live in Pakistan ,be well and prosper .aamin .Recommend
Excellent. With all the glorification of Dubai around in general, its nice to know that there are people that feel the lack of soul and life there. Yes, it’s capitalism at its worst. Put up tall glass and metal buildings and then burn energy to keep em cool.Recommend
Well, I feel the article is very biased against Dubai. Many of the points are ture but many wrong and exagerated. Perhaps, you have not visited the mosque at mall of the emirates, but it is full at prayer times and several rounds of congregation take place for every prayer, so is the case with other mall.
I do agree a lot of wrong takes place, but that does not mean we don’t see the good.
As far as pakistan is concerned, its the pakistanis who say ‘At least we are not pakistan’ as they get there citizenship in the west.Recommend
Hi George!
You have well said about Dubai and we Pakistanis are happy you said our state is better, and better to hear from the people like you to whom our identity infact has totally changed, as a terorist and under privileged society.
i went dubai once only and the stay was on the Dubai Airport and what i got i think because of being a Pkaitsnai. The way they checked my paper and my stuff was really humiliating, this sort of atitude i never saw in Italian Airports where i often go. though we often say the italians are most racist (which surely is wrong).
I use to travle by air on Muslim Airlines like Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia etc because of halal food and many other resons and i always say that atitude of Arabic People is very disgusting towards us. they never bear us so i never want to live in these countries, so for us Dubai is only a place to earn not to like them.
And if we get same opportunities in Pakistan we will go no where else. (which is ofcourse not posssible because of so much American intervention in our beloved country)
Thanks for giving a good comparison and Hats off for the way you wrote!Recommend
I did a crazy long reply to your article but my internet crapped out and I lost it all! Oh well, just wanted to tell you that it was a great article! Great job!Recommend
LOL. Judgemental much?
People spend what they can, because Dubai allows you the freedom to do so without fearing being mugged in broad daylight or being afraid to go out simply because some nutjob may decide to blow himself up in the middle of the road.
And your generalizations are as absurd as they are laughable, especially since they’re based on only 10 days’ experience. Dubai is not relegated to Jumeirah mate; go to the other parts of the city and you’d see a completely different side of the city.Recommend
Why such an article would not suit a person like me (you’ll find a lot of people who were born in this country):
-You are comparing a city (with barely over a million people currently) to a country (160 plus million people).
-You might be right about the current state of emptiness but your generalization about the people and the ruler, or whoever has suggested them to you, are quite extreme. Why do I consider them extreme? Well my answer is based on all types of people I have met, seen and observed in my life while what you have mentioned about people over here is based on a 10-day trip if I’m not mistaken. How can you so openly comment about a society that you have no great idea about? Did you know that Dubai was a more westernized city in some aspects back in the 1960’s than it is now? It cut down on many cultural aspects being present from the 1960’s due to whatever reasons. Now compare 2010, actually 2000 to 1960 and see the difference. And you say that it hasn’t eased off its kingdom mentality which it doesn’t have to anyways. Moreover, you are not the only tourist over here, there are a lot more of them who are following their respective cultures and hence you are taking up the challenge of not only criticizing Dubai’s culture that you barely know of (you do know something) but also many other cultures that you probably don’t know about at all. This country’s culture has been to live your own but respect every religion, society and culture and that is bigger to me than democracy.
-You mentioned that people over hear wear a lot of the following: bling bling, polo t-shirts, oversized handbags and sunglasses. I didn’t quite understand this statement’s purpose.
-What’s the point of democracy when the majority of people do not benefit from it? What’s the point of a robust media when almost everything is manipulated or a complete lie? What is the point of a police if nothing can be controlled with it? Why is there a comparison taking place between a country and a city, a country that has actually imported more Western aspects in total than the city and that are not actually applying these imports in the right way.
-You, like every other person, are criticizing Dubai after it got entangled in the world financial crisis. I’m not denying that there haven’t been many mistakes on the government’s side in the past few years such as too much dependence on tourism for their income and no quota system present for large industries but that doesn’t mean you write them off as such.
-The spirit of Dubai along with a few corrections from the government will definitely bail out Dubai and propel it forward again with the aim to be Middle East’s cocktail, regional hub where you can decide whether you want to be in a Middle+Eastern or Middle+Western cultural atmosphere. The former one would mean landing at Dubai’s current airport terminal while the latter one would mean landing at Dubai’s new airport coming up in the future.
Best Regards,
A.Pamnani (A normally neutral person but one-sided today due to the nature of the article.)Recommend
Well written but I gotta disagree with some of your arguments. It seems that you were a little biased while writing the article.
Firstly, you told us to “Take time to celebrate our cultural, religious, linguistic plurality and richness”. Don’t get me wrong but what kind of cultural or religious diversity are you talking about? Pakistan surely is rich in culture and religion but richness is not the only factor that matters. What matters more is that these diverse cultures and religious belief should co-exist side by side with each other. In Pakistan we have all sorts of cultural and religious clashes between these “diverse cultural and religious” sects. Shia vs Sunni, attacks on other minorities, Sindhi vs Punjabi vs Pukhtun vs Balochi vs Saraiqi vs Muhajir vs What-Not rivalry; is this how cultural richness supposed to exist? Decide yourself.
Secondly you cherished the point that at least “we have democracy”. I totally agree with you. Pakistan is a democratic country where people have a free choice of selecting their leaders. But these leaders who are supposed to work for their nation who brought them to their prestigious positions, do not do so. Instead they just care about their personal bank balance. So what are we supposed to do with this DEMOCRACY.
As a Pakistani I would have felt ashamed but since I am stating the truth, I feel no shame in saying that Pakistanis are a complete FAILURE at life. And for the record, I repeat that “Pakistanis (NOT PAKISTAN) are a complete FAILURE at life”. And if you cannot accept this fact, you have no will power to bring about the change that is required. You mean nothing to Pakistan. You might be one of the 17 crore people that we call Pakistani but you surely are not the one that will bring about the change that Pakistan is in need of.
I am, in no way, supporting Dubai because I don’t even care about it. What I am saying is that we have had enough. Instead of comparing ourselves to others we should take a look at ourselves and see what are we doing that is the reason for the conditions that exist around us. There might be some external forces that are preventing us from developing. But we should be determined that there is no force more powerful than our unity and faith.
I see a little hope in the form of handful of thinkers and activists that are trying to bring about the change. May Allah help them in their mission and may He give us all the ability to change ourselves and our beloved country. Allah! let the Miracle happen! AMEENRecommend
I beg to differ with George. One doesn’t need to blast another place or its people to realize the beauty of his own country.
One should read this blog post in response to this:
http://hafsakhawaja.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/yes-were-not-in-dubai-we-just-need-to-wake-up/
“We have a heart? Then how can we forget the 700,000 Pakistanis living in Dubai who were welcomed by its leaders and its people to their land where most of them went for the opportunities it offered and have built fortunes or if not fortunes, improved and bettered their standard of life while supporting their families back home in Pakistan. Our people have and are benefiting from Dubai, then how ignorant can we be to blindly applaud the baseless censuring of it.
We as people of another nation, and that too a highly flawed and blemished one, have no right or privilege whatsoever, to deride any other nation in order to restore our confidence in our country or be thankful for what we are today.
We don’t need any reason to love Pakistan but merely the fact that it is our identity, our freedom, our home and our future should push farther in our hearts, the love for this gift of Allah.
For all that George Fulton has written, I beg to differ , pointing out the flaws in other nations and degrading them will never uplift us but only solidify the degree of over-confidence and stagnant thinking that we possess as a nation but also add up an evident glint of ignorance and arrogance to our mind-sets. It will cement the illusion in us that we are perfect as a nation and nothing needs to be changed. We have defects as a society and as a nation, we acquiesce with the wrong, we refuse to admit our mistakes and such articles make us numb to the prick of our conscience and accepting the reality about us and the need to change. One should first glance at the order of their house first before pointing out at other homes. As Oscar Wilde writes in his only novel, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” :
“Everyone knows how others should lead their lives but none know how to lead theirs”
So we, need to focus on ourselves rather than others; we need to wake up to the need for a difference in ourselves which shall light the torch of change that shall illuminate Pakistan rather than focusing on others and acquiring self-contentment by unrightfully finding faults in other nations. “Recommend
Very well articulated. I resided there briefly and did not leave with fond memories, more of those a person treated as a second class citizen would have, which basically is how Pakistanis/labourers are treated.
could Dubai be the next Atlantis?????.Recommend
First of all, it is beautifully written.
and more then the words, it is a beautiful thought.
We all need such soul searching!!
Respect!!Recommend
Why are people even comparing pakistan with Dubai ………… its safe , it has all the luxuries a common man could ask for , wonderful holiday locations , arguably afforrdable everyday life requirements , and a really friendly public environment . the bad things are however quite expensive broadband internet, really high temperatures and traffic jams. thats about all !Recommend