PHOTO: REUTERS
The way to Trump’s heart is through real estate. So, how about leasing President Donald Trump prime land in Islamabad’s ‘Diplomatic Enclave’ to build a Trump Tower if you want America’s favours? Seriously, Pakistan will reap rich dividends. Mr Sartaj Aziz, are you listening Sir? Trump likes to cut deals just like our businessman Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Put the PM on the plane pronto carrying blueprints of the proposed property before the idea catches fire around other capitals of the world queuing up to cut deals with Trump. He already has businesses in Turkey, UAE, Britain, Canada, Panama, Dubai, the Philippines, South Korea and Uruguay.
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India is ahead in this game. Only a week after his election, Trump’s Indian partners, Sagar and Atul Chordia, along with Kalpesh Mehta were warmly welcomed by the president-elect and his three children in New York. As the developers of Trump Towers in Pune, these men gloated about buyers rushing to own a piece of property carrying the US president’s name! India is slated to erect more Trump Towers in future. If Pakistan wants to stop America from cozying up to India, the only way to prevent it is by joining Trump’s gravy train. Let the man build a golf course in Lahore or a luxury hotel in Karachi with his name in gold letters. Never mind if Trump’s detractors complain that it’s not presidential to use his position for promoting his brand overseas that would benefit him financially. The wealthy Antonio family, met the Trump clan in New York to promise Trump-branded resorts in Manila, Philippines.
Most Americans are aghast at the speed Trump is building a political dynasty made up of family members. Trump, 70, says he’s already a billionaire, but it won’t hurt to haul in more millions during his presidency, though we may not know this since Donald will not show his tax returns. What we do know is that the president-elect hawks stakes, vodka, men’s ties and suits, all made in China. He continues to aggressively pedal his real estate developments, luxury hotels and golf courses across the globe. Meanwhile, soon-to-be first lady Melania Trump, 45, sells exotic jewellery and watches with her name exclusively through QVC, an online shopping network. She also markets pricey skin-care brands. Ivanka Trump, daughter of Donald, vends swanky gold and diamond baubles only the very wealthy can buy.
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The 45th president of America has a two-pronged strategy: exploit his office to enrich his empire by overtly telling all and sundry that the White House will formally be open for business starting January 20, 2017; create a Trump dynasty through empowering his kids with high-powered assignments in the Trump administration. An unapologetic and defiant Trump recently told The New York Times in an interview that he had no legal obligation to establish boundaries between his business empire and his White House. “The law’s totally on my side” he announced, when reminded about conflict of interest and ethics laws.
“The president can’t have a conflict of interest,” was Trump’s shut up call to his interlocutors at Manhattan’s 16th floor boardroom of The New York Times. He will invite business partners into the White House for “grip-and-grin” photo-ops. Trump boasts that his brand “is certainly a hotter brand than it was before.” Here’s heaven-sent opportunity for Nawaz Sharif to stick his foot in the door of the White House carrying gifts in shape of real estate proposals and return home laden with American aid. It may also be a good idea to take Maryam Nawaz Sharif along to showcase Pakistan’s first daughter who like Ivanka Trump is savvy in family business and running the affairs of the state.
In sum, not only will Trump’s children manage the business empire; they will have a political role in the Trump administration. He has already appointed them in the presidential transition to cherry pick his team. Recently Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner sat in a meeting between Trump and the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Who knows, we may soon see Trump Towers sprout in Tokyo! Meanwhile, diplomats are fast filling Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC to curry favour with the incoming president.
Hurry Pakistan!
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2016.
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