William Hague tweets 'About to lay a wreath at Iqbal's tomb in Lahore.' PHOTO: TWITTER
Tweeting from his official Twitter account, Hague said that he was happy to visit Lahore, before comparing it to French metropolis.
Me Lahore aa ker khush howa! Paris of Pakistan
— William Hague (@WilliamJHague) July 18, 2013
Hague started this official tour of Pakistan on Wednesday, starting with a bilateral meeting with the adviser to Prime Minister on foreign affairs and national security Sartaj Aziz. A foreign ministry official told The Express Tribune that the focus of British foreign secretary’s visit would be on the current Afghan situation. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Britain, which is part of the US-led Nato/Isaf mission in Afghanistan, was concerned about the deadlock over the Qatar talks.
The British foreign secretary later joined the Punjab cabinet for Iftar on Thursday evening after a day of meetings with the Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Pleasure and honour to join Punjab Cabinet for #Iftar dinner as they break their fast on Thursday evening in Lahore
— William Hague (@WilliamJHague) July 18, 2013
COMMENTS (50)
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@Alann: The riots that you elude to were instigated by the establishment by racial profiling, harassment and ultimately the death of an innocent youth. Those who took part in the riots were almost entirely from the Maghreb (North African descent) and NOT from Pakistanis! It had nothing to do with religion and all to do with disenfranchisement (A terme français).
@Polpot: Lahore: Birmingham of Pakistan I seriously think NOT. Birmingham is home to overwhelming Kashmiri/Mirpuri population with their own distinct Pothwari culture. Lahories and Punjabi's in general are a minority within a minority in Birmingham.
@Someone dont call them Islamic exteremists .. (if you r not a white european)... try living in a Paris suburb.....then see how French police humilate and racially profile you...
Now I am curious to see Lahore of France.
William Hague didn't say anything bad about India, so why Indians are so angry for him praising Lahore??
@ Umer
My Indian friend, don't take someone's comments about India's slums so seriously. We shouldn't go down to that level (both sides!) . London is beautiful but it has narrow roads. Paris is knowns as a city of vast roads and boulevards. That is why it is called Romantic city. Why he called Lahore Paris is because Lahore is called Paris of South Asia (as per my Indian facebook friends).
His next tweet should be "Delhi is the capital of rapes"
The whole world praises the administrative acumen of Mian Shahbaz Sharif in improving the living standard of the people under his ambit. Thats why the living standard of the people of Punjab is far better than the other provinces and the PMLN bravely overthrew the Tsunama because of Good Governance that even the worst critics are bound to acknowledge!
multan n lahore were like paris built before partition , post partition its nothing like it. so clearly a taunt, british r again at it.....whos at loss..thats us! trying to be somone who we aint. DNA never changes, history didnot start in 14th century, but our misfortune did. tarek fateh and other intellects show us brighter side of life, not to ape scrouge of world,,,how long will it take us to understand.
and PPP with its amn committee gangsters have made Karachi the crime ghetto of Pakistan
Lahoriites may take pride in it. But I see this differently. He was diplomatic. If we remember that its europeans who are from pre poll to post poll were predicting PML N's victory. Its european commission which vindicated transparency of elections. Its UK whose Prime MInister, Foreign Minster have visited Pakistan just after aroung 60-70 days of formation of government. And not to mention several meetings by ambassador with Sharif brothers. There is something special for PML N government from Europe, particularly UK, this time around.
visit Lakshmi chowk, Misri shah in rain and then comment.
Well, the usual indian trolls, and Pakistani liberals and secularists laughing and ridiculing their country, in their attempt to be ''modern''.
I would disagree and say Lahore was once the Oxford of British India. Sorry but I have to use the past tense. Lahore had great intellects such as Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Allama Iqbal, Wasif Ali Wasif , Nobel prize winners such as Abdus Salam, Chandrasekhar, Har Gobind Khorana. Lahore is just a pale shadow of it former greatness.
A real story: Once in 2006 I was driving some Dehli based Indian authors from Hotel One Mall to Liberty. They were praising the beauty of Lahore as it is Paris. So there is no doubt in claiming Lahore as Paris of Pakistan
Can some one correct him. Lahore is Paris and it become Venice in rainy season.
@Umer: Mr Umer Lahore has the population of approx 2 crores (1.3 crore last year figure which does not includes Raiwind, Mohanwal and many surrounding areas). Where as no other city in Punjab has a population near 1 crore. I have been to Europe and seen it by road. Its 90% under developed. See the map, you will find only 3 or 4 developed cities in France and likewise in other countries of the world including Germany. Governments cannot provide everything to all cities. People should understand this thing. We need to make a model city first to attract foreign investors. In order to develop and provide everything to few cities, investments are consolidated and put together for greater good. Its like that a family can have one Honda Civic or 4 Mehran cars for each person :).
@waqas: Bhai have u looked at the map of Pakistan? There are hundreds of cities. We cannot develop each one of them. France, America, Canada etc have few ultra-developed cities. See India. It has Mumbai, Bangalore and couple of cities developed, rest are all under-developed. So is the case of all European countries. I am not saying that basic facilities shouldn't be provided. But we cannot develop Peshawar, Islamabad, Multan like Lahore and Karachi. This is simply stupidity as we don't have enough resouces that we construct ring roads all over Pakistan. Why people of all under developed cities come and start living in Lahore???? Whats the problem??? Aren't Lahories are famous of hospitality?? My suggestion is to come and start living here, so that we all can share resources of this great city together. I spent 10 years in Rahim Yaar Khan and 2 years in Jehlum and now I am living in Lahore. Lahories are too good. Come and join us.
What he means is, Lahore has the same cultural significance for Pakistan as Paris has for France. For all those PML(N) trolls jumping up and down, he never said that Lahore is as clean or developed as Paris. An English language class would certainly go a long way for you guys.
Every city in this world has its own beauty.
I'm sure Lahore has its charms.
And if not for the ugly people (in our nature) of South Asia, most south Asian cities are beautiful in their own right.
So, no one should question if he felt like he was in Paris.
Well Paris is kinda crowded and chaotic and dirtier than you'd expect a European city to be, and Parisians are obsessed about clothes and food, and they think they are the best city ever, and Minar-e-Pakistan kinda looks like the Eiffel tower...I declare that the analogy is very apt.
Lahore: Birmingham of Pakistan ++++++++++++++++++++ Might hyave been more appropriate. At least that wouldnt cause a dilomatic debacle with the French.
@Maria: Madam I notice that you forgot to quote Mr Hegel about India and Afghanistan ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Also it has slipped your mind to again ask for a UN Financed wall all around Pakistan.
(You can see that I pay attention to what you say here).
In Paris you hardly see any Parisians, the city is oversaturated from darkhair North Africans and all the french speaking countries of Africa.
Likewise in Lahore you hardly meet any people who are the inhabitants of this cultural city before 1947. The city swarms with people from all the villages and madrasas of Pakistan and India.
guys don't make fun ........ he said "Paris of Pakistan" not just like Paris .......... and its true Lahore is the Paris of Pakistan amonge the whole cities of Pakistan ........
yeah u r right ......... he said paris of pakistan not said just like paris .......... feel the diff guys @Pakistan:
@js: The reason he didn't compare Lahore to any English city is because Lahore probably has fewer riots and is prettier than many English towns. The standard of city beauty has always been Paris and yes Lahore is the Paris of Pakistan! Why do some here mention rapes in India or Dehli's nickname as the rape capital of Asia? It has nothing to do with a British Minister complimenting Lahore. You should know that the negative comments here in this article against Pakistan and Lahore are just from Indian trolls so just ignore them.
well ask a Lahori... Lahore lahore aye....
He probly means they both have world renowned red light districts:p
@Umer. And I might be forced to bet that you are part of those. Why so much hatred? Try to do something for your country or just leave it.
William ... you have not seen lahore..trust me! and Shahbaz Sharif please don't put your words in foreigner's mouth.. they joke..
I hope William will not be over staying in Pakistan? And did William pay 3000 pounds at the airport for security that he wont over stay like he has imposed on Pakistani nationals when visiting uk.
Its the other way around. Paris is Lahore of France. Get it straight we are not imitating them. William hague get it in to your head. We are independent and we have an independent destiny. We are Pakistan.
a big joke of 2013
@Someone:
Lahore is a sanctuary of such elements...lashkars and jamaats...
@Someone:
Lahore steals resources from all provinces and spends all on itself. That has something to do with it.
@1971: Lahore is much cleaner and modern than the slums you find in India which you call "cities".
@Alan: Lahore is Paris of Pakistan? Of course it is! Just like Islamic extremists are making riots and destroying property in Paris last few years, the situation is more or less same in Lahore too!
Care to point out any such incidents in Lahore?
For Pakistanis whereas Lahore is heart of Pakistan, Karachi is brain of Pakistan, Khyber is defence of Pakistan and Pakistani nation is the bravest nation on earth as described by Newsweek. Keeping in view New Delhi is known as the Rape city of India.
Ufffffff....................Now Burnol has totally vanished from the retail market and PTI Trolls are just scratching their heads pondering as to how this latest agony can be remedied.
Is Paris that bad? I did not know. Why did he not say Lahore is London?
@1971 yeah next he will say india is country of rapes......oh wait
@1971: He said "Paris of Pakistan". He is not saying that its like Paris or something. Think about the difference. Read carefully before you post such comments or else take some english classes.
Lahore is Paris of Pakistan? Of course it is! Just like Islamic extremists are making riots and destroying property in Paris last few years, the situation is more or less same in Lahore too!
did you guys ever thought of asking Parisians how they felt about this analogy. Did you ever stop to think why he didn't compare your Lahore to any UK city.
It's truely an insult to Paris
It's not just Shahbaz Sharif who has helped transform Lahore into a more modern and developed city, credit must given to Lahoris who take pride in maintaining and improving this beautiful historic city.
Don't be serious, he made some jokes
wishes of Mian Shahbaz Sharif have come true. It is time to stop improving Lahore and start working on other cities.
amazing no comments from my PTI friends ? come on guys you need to criticize this..
I can bet he is scared of the guy standing behind him.