In these days of VIP culture, such demonstrations of simplicity by a high-profile politician is very commendable
ISLAMABAD: I happened to travel by PIA flight number PK309 from Islamabad to Karachi on the evening of August 13. Since it was a Boeing 777, it had two staircases for boarding, one near the cockpit (for business and economy-plus passengers) and the other further back for economy class passengers. When I got off the bus, I proceeded to the rear staircase as my seat was in row 68, which is closer to the rear of the aircraft and there was a long line of passengers there already. Surprisingly, there was no passenger or line at the other staircase, i.e., the one in front of the aircraft.
I was, however, astonished to see our Information Minister Pervez Rashid standing in the same line as mine. I, along with some of the other passengers, were impressed at this as the federal minister chose not to stand in the line in front of the VIP staircase even though in all probability he would have been travelling in the economy plus class, at least, which all ministers are entitled to while travelling domestically. This gesture on the part of a federal minister touched the hearts of many passengers. In these days of VIP culture, such demonstrations of simplicity by a high-profile politician is very commendable and a lesson to others of the same status. The only other high-profile politician of national level that I am aware of who always used the general lounge for arrival and departure was the late Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan.
Hats off to Mr Rashid. Please keep it up.
Syed Masood Alam Rizvi
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2015.
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