Pakistan

Islamabad's Centaurus Mall starts charging Rs100 entry fee, but only from a select few

Public notice lists 23 types of people who will not have to purchase Rs100 entry coupons to enter mall

Web Desk July 04, 2015

PHOTO: MYRA IQBAL/ EXPRESS

Islamabad’s biggest shopping mall, Centaurus Mall, has come under fire after it announced on Thursday that some visitors will be required to purchase entry coupons.

In what it called a move to avoid ‘overcrowding’, Centaurus Mall in a public notice said visitors will have to buy a Rs100 coupon to enter the mall. However, some people are exempt from the scheme which goes into effect on July 3.

The public notice listed 23 types of people who will not have to purchase the entry coupons. Those exempted include all women and children under 12, senior citizens, lawmakers and executives, diplomats and foreigners, journalists and lawyers, members of country clubs, doctors and teachers. Further, the notice said, “famous players of hockey, cricket, football and golf” and “celebrities” do not have to purchase the entry coupon.

https://twitter.com/hushamahmed/status/616706579430162433

Read: Centaurus soft launch: City’s first ‘authentic’ shopping mall opens its doors

The exemptions sparked debate on social media with some questioning who will determine who’s ‘famous’ and others alleging ‘class discrimination.’

So only the underprivileged suffer. Make the rich and affluent class pay. #centaurus pic.twitter.com/s5rpciCbTH
— Shezreh Mirza (@ShezrehMirza) July 3, 2015

“Some pretty gross and messed up elitism by the Centaurus Mall in Islamabad here. Too many poors visiting I guess,” said one commentor on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/kaalakawaa/status/616574769886990336

While others claimed the action was taken to keep out ‘Pindi Boys.’

Almost everyone is on the Centaurus ticket exemption list except #PindiBoys :D Entry ticket: Rs 100 now http://t.co/vr1AuILvbe
— Islamabad Scene (@IslamabadScene) July 2, 2015

Since the day of Metro inauguration,I stopped going to Centaurus as Pindi boys spoiled the family atmosphere. Cheapos everywhere. #Islamabad
— Saad (@SaadKarimKhan) July 2, 2015

#Centaurus Mall Islamabad introduced PKR 100 Entry Fee cos
1000s of Pindi Boys spends PKR 20 on Metro &
Lives all day Loadshedding free Zone
— Fahad Khan 🇺🇸 (@FaaadKhan) July 2, 2015

#Shame on #Centaurus for imposing Rs. 100 fee on entrance, and then exempting everyone other than Pindi Boyses... http://t.co/tKz4rNhXVp
— Noman Ashraf (@noman_env) July 2, 2015

no worries pindi boyz, come to lahore #centaurus . we dont discriminate! unless u make it a habit:)
— فیزان (@punjabkhwa) July 2, 2015

However, the mall management defended the move as a measure to facilitate customers.

“To ensure that shopping at Centaurus does not become inconvenient to them, we have decided to introduce an entry coupon of Rs100 per person,” the public notice read.

COMMENTS (106)

EUH | 9 years ago | Reply Good!

imran khan | 9 years ago | Reply Its a pathetic move. Discriminating against poor people will create resentment and a sense of inferiority complex.Secondly all those people supporting it and nay saying that random people stroll around, So WHAT, people should be able to roam freely at least in their own country.Shame on the management!

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Bibi khan | 9 years ago | Reply You must be joking ??? People who don't have money to buy have atleast right to gas around , I don't think its right to do , the ticket should be applied on everyone specially to those who have money ,@Zohaib Jamal:

ABC | 9 years ago | Reply @Max: Why women should be exception? For how long the male gender will be discriminated?

Bilal Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Entry fee should be 1 lac so it`s easy to decide that where should I go Centaurus or Umrah :-p

ABC | 9 years ago | Reply All of them who are saying its a good decision are basically mentally slaves. Only in Pakistan foreigners are allowed something for free and Pakistanis have to pay. People like those commenting deserves it.

Max | 9 years ago | Reply Seeing the crowd in Dolmen Mall, sometimes I wish they had an entry fee too. Centaurus as a business establishment has full right to charge for entry. However, having such a long list of exceptions is in poor taste. The should simply have said "exceptions are women, children under 12 and senior citizens" and end it there. Still, Rs 100 is not too much if you're allowed to utilize it for food/shopping within the mall.

kfaisal | 9 years ago | Reply The decision is good if there were lots of guys loitering around but exempting all isb chaps is weird. They loiter too. Otherwise its an OK decision especially considering the fact that the ticket is refundable if u buy anything. The list is a bit strange as university students, engineers and bankers should also have been exempt. If the guy who wrote the 'angrezi' of the add was the decision maker too, then what else can we expect !

AS | 9 years ago | Reply People are getting in an uproar for no reason. This is a private business. Unless they're blatantly banning people based on race, religion, etc., they have every right to impose an entry fee A Rs 100 entry fee isn't unreasonable considering how few malls there are of this quality in the area. Their mistake was creating all the exceptions; without that, there would be far less controversy. Everyone should have the right to enter public places - govt parks, etc. No one should be banned from those. But this is a private indoor property. They have the right to do what they want with their business. And for those of us that experienced the loitering masses, the leering at female family members, it's actually a welcome change.

Middle class | 9 years ago | Reply Totally ridiculous and proves the discrimination is all around us not only in politics but now in business also. A very shameful act.

Dr Jazzy | 9 years ago | Reply Well, as a business academician, II don't disagree witht the policy. From business point of view, it's cool. However, discriminating people on the basis of the cities they hail from, is shameful and must be condemned.

Rightway | 9 years ago | Reply I have seen girls prostesting lot... because almost a vast majority of hostle girls living in pindi islamad, spent their most of time in this mall just occuping space for nothing... No university student should be exempted because there is no institution or knowledge place inside....

kashif | 9 years ago | Reply Food court should be exempted from that law.

PakProtector | 9 years ago | Reply @Sara: If you are respectable you will respect other, this move is to discourage not poor but to discourage punk folk. Doctor, lawyer, chamber of commerce member etc..., Everyone has worked hard in their life to get that stature and respect and don’t want to lose it in eve teasing and stalking,,, Because they know they can have anything with money they will not waste time here rather earn some where....

Muhammad Ali | 9 years ago | Reply Boycott this mall.

Farrukh Aqil | 9 years ago | Reply @Zara: I don't agree with what you say but your comment has made me realise that I was wrong about the addition of "university students" to the list. It's just that even the elites have not been so innocent in the past and indeed they do even worse things and remain uninfluenced. I've witnessed some of my colleagues doing similar things like those of Pindi boys and that makes this decision even more perfect. Some of my comments are under review and will soon be posted. You will have your answers, then! Your comment, however, indicates your early onset rampancy. PS. I am not a resident of Islamabad!

Farrukh Aqil | 9 years ago | Reply @Fauzia: You need to understand that this is not about creating class differences or discriminating people with respect to their wealth or caste. My maid can visit the mall without paying a single penny but I will have to pay Rs. 100 because I myself am not among those "23 elites" listed above. Do you actually think that a discriminative system will mark an engineer out of the elites and will include a maid? Look in to this deep inside and you will realise that the pindi boys have specifically been targeted and that's because their activities have been excessively lecherous, lately. And this will lead to the well-being of the citizens and the "pindi boys" too!

Farrukh Aqil | 9 years ago | Reply @Mansoor: I know the way they've put this up is not right but what they've done, certainly is! You need to deem things from a clearer point of view and you will come to acknowledge that their decision is reasonable. They've added the police to the list. If only their intentions were to create a class difference, they would've not included them. Why do you think those pindi boys were specifically targeted? There lies a reason beneath which most of the people are not just aware of! Had you had an encounter with one of those, you would not be here defending them. And as I said before it's not about elitism, it's about mannerism amd order. It's about peace and balance. This entry fee of Rs. 100 seems to demolish the principles of equality but look deep inside and you'll know that this will eventually make those pindi boys better and "elite". Once, they learn self-control and public manners, they will no longer be out of the list of "exempted people". PS. I am not a resident of Islamabad and I am not among those 23 elites in the list. But believe me this doesn't offend me at all because I am beholding things neutrally rather emotionally. If I've offended you with my comments, I am really sorry. Peace!

Ayesha | 9 years ago | Reply Very Bad centaurus management

Arslan | 9 years ago | Reply I think a better solution is that everyone entering should pay 100 PKR and those who buy stuff inside should get a net PKR 100 discount on the things that they buy inside based on the receipt of entrance fee. This way you discourage people who only come for window shopping while having no other discriminations. Problem solved.

Amel | 9 years ago | Reply @Farrukh Aqil: So you post a long elitist tirade and then you tell another commentator to "abstain from posting comments that will invoke hatred and class discrimination." You elite just can't stand being shown a mirror, can you? And if there was really an overcrowding and harassment problem, a simple flat Rs.100 without any exemptions, period, would have done the job. Please be more honestly elitist in your next comment.

Zara | 9 years ago | Reply @Farrukh Aqil: "Forget about the barbarity! I will ask you when you will see these pindi boys hitting on your mother/sister, greedily for lust." As a girl who's been harassed myself (by you Islamabadis just as much as by Pindi boys, you men are all the same, trust me), I can tell you that providing a safe environment across this country was the job of the same elite (government officials, police, etc.). They should have passed laws and the police should have served the public instead of the politicians. That is why there is this horrific law and order problem. So it is under the watch of these elite that women are being harassed (again, by you Islamabadis just as much as by Pindi boys, this is a problem with all men no matter what class or city they come from). They have failed in their duty, yet they are the ones being rewarded with these exemptions. You really do not find any of that insane? And can you vouch for the exempted elite themselves? What will you do when they will harass a mother/sister (which they definitely will)? Please next time do not defend this elitist action in the name of us mothers/sisters.

Customer | 9 years ago | Reply Guys you are all taking this way out of proportion and it's not worth criticizing without realizing the actual ground reality within the mall. I've got a number of video clips that I can share with you and hundreds of customers comments and complaints against the younger group of boys who visit the mall with the sole intent of checking out and teasing women and families. Trust me if you all saw what was going on you would understand why the management made this drastic decision. They had customers insisting that this ticket system should be implemented to keep these guys out. They have an ample amount of security within the mall but these guys are in the thousands and controlling them is literally impossible. If you look at the statement from the management it does not discriminate against any class of people in fact nearly everyone is allowed in and they have emphasized on families, elderly etc which does not segregate the rich from the poor. Tell me something aren't malls made for families and civilized people? Do you see this kind of crowd at the Serena or Marriott? This was purely done for the comfort and convenience of genuine customers visiting the mall. Think about the women as ur sisters and mothers and then tell me if you would tolerate guys trying to flirt with them, take their pics or verbally abuse them in anyway? Yet if you still feel it's discrimination then I hope you feel comfortable knowing that these boys who are purely spectators will be able to redeem their Rs.100 even if they buy an an ice cream worth Rs.100 whilst walking out.

Saman | 9 years ago | Reply In North Korea they have malls, and those malls are exclusively and openly for the elite only. Centaurus should also be just as honest and put out a notice saying they are only open to business for elite shoppers, and all the rest should stay out. Centaurus's elitist bigotry is already laid bare, so why bother with Rs.100 for everyone and then sugarcoat it with these many exceptions? Centaurus, be openly and proudly elitist, please.

Munir | 9 years ago | Reply @Syeda Umme Kulso,: "it’s actually to avoid those bunch of stupid people who come and openly besharmo ko tarah take pictures of mothers, sisters, daughter or what so ever which is ruining the environment" Yes, absolutely with you sister! Because the long list of exempted people totally don't do exactly that!

Mansoor | 9 years ago | Reply @Omer: Thank you for your support. I agree that the Centaurus is not even something essential, we can have all our needs fulfilled elsewhere, and that's exactly what I'll be doing too now.

Beenish | 9 years ago | Reply @NOT special: I hope you know that Islamabad is not a part of Punjab and Punjabis do not even make up most of its population. This is a class issue, pure and simple, as if the Pathans and Kashmiris (the other major components of Islamabad's population) have no class and caste issues of their own.

Irum | 9 years ago | Reply @Farrukh Aqil: Centaurs, best mall in Pakistan? Acha??? Sonny, you've never gone anywhere outside Islamabad, have you? And look at the rest of what you posted. Your elitism sickens me.

Fauzia | 9 years ago | Reply @Farrukh Aqil: Look at what you have posted: "Undoubtedly, frequent visits from the pindi boys to the mall would have forced the mall management to take such a decision. To maintain their standards they needed to do something such. I mean, I myself feel a lot uncomfortable and distracted when such people are around my family, while shopping. Centaurus being the best mall in Pakistan had to take an action to get rid of those silly chaps. And this is not about discrimination or class difference. It’s about manners and the ways one presents oneself in public and that’s what makes you a gentleman or an elite or a pindi boy! However, I believe that they should have added university students to the list of “exempted people”." And then you tell Mansoor: "And please abstain from posting comments that will invoke hatred and class discrimination." Really Farrukh, is this height of hypocrisy a trademark of all you Islamabadis or is it just your own specialty?

Ejaz | 9 years ago | Reply @Indian: There is nothing to be taken aback by. Islamabad is a small city with a small land area and a small population. Also each sector and each neighborhood of Islamabad has its own markets where people have most of their needs taken care of, and smaller mini-malls already exist where people can get what they want without having to come to Centaurus. That's why there is only one mall and that too is for the elite. None of this is surprising.

Mansoor | 9 years ago | Reply @Farrukh Aqil: Are you seriously for real? Why haven't you read the numerous other comments here that say that the line of argument you just gave is preposterous? This argument would have made sense if there weren't all these ludicrous exemptions. Do you honestly believe these elite exempted from that Rs.100 do none of the thing you just ascribed to Pindi Boys? Do you? And do you actually have the gall to accuse me of invoking hatred and class discrimination when I'm not the one who has imposed that Rs.100 with all these absurd elitist exemptions? Obviously you are not here to have a serious discussion, you are just here to troll and spam. Now please have the rest of this conversation with someone else because I will not waste a second more of my time with someone who is here to litter this forum with intellectually dishonest absurdities.

Nabeel | 9 years ago | Reply @A poond: Yes this why my friend. This is why the entry fees has been imposed. Stop complaining people.

vicktor d'souza | 9 years ago | Reply @Fahad: How about a Jim Beam at the Jim Khanna, old boy ?

Maleeha | 9 years ago | Reply Why are so many people acting like this Rs.100 is a good step to keep out lecherous predators? Do you people really think the long list of people exempted from it don't do any lechery? They are in fact the worst, because when they will harass women and literally shoot and kill anyone who stops them, the police and the law cannot touch them! I am so shocked that anyone could give this ludicrous reason to justify those Rs. 100! I've shopped at the Centaurus before, and now I would feel far more endangered and insecure now that ONLY these elite lecherous harassers have been allowed fully free access. I come from a respectable family, and that Mall is now no longer a place for a girl like me. Sorry, I will be shopping somewhere else now, the security of my sanctity as a girl is more important to me than the luxury of shopping at a "hip" and "cool" mall.

Farrukh Aqil | 9 years ago | Reply @Mansoor: Forget about the barbarity! I will ask you when you will see these pindi boys hitting on your mother/sister, greedily for lust. I know my comment is offensive but it is to make you realise that the decision has some weight. And please abstain from posting comments that will invoke hatred and class discrimination.

NOT special | 9 years ago | Reply This is just an extension of the ugly caste system in Pakistan, almost completely in Punjab, where people are ranked on the basis of caste and people from "lower" castes are treated as dirt by others who consider themselves as belonging to 'superior' castes. Except in this case the discrimination is on the basis of class and not caste. Punjab must get over its ugly caste problem. Please stop living in the 15th century.

Hashim | 9 years ago | Reply @observer: Typical Indian troll, sticking his nose where it's not wanted and posting the most ignorant spam imaginable. The elite this mall is for are NOT Indian Muslims, and if you think they are, then you have no business commenting on this. You know unlike India, not everything in Pakistan has to do with its founding ideology. Now please writhe in agony at the Partition somewhere else and let all the rest of us have a really intellectual and meaningful discussion here, on a topic that is our business and ours only.

Farrukh Aqil | 9 years ago | Reply Undoubtedly, frequent visits from the pindi boys to the mall would have forced the mall management to take such a decision. To maintain their standards they needed to do something such. I mean, I myself feel a lot uncomfortable and distracted when such people are around my family, while shopping. Centaurus being the best mall in Pakistan had to take an action to get rid of those silly chaps. And this is not about discrimination or class difference. It's about manners and the ways one presents oneself in public and that's what makes you a gentleman or an elite or a pindi boy! However, I believe that they should have added university students to the list of "exempted people".

Arsalan | 9 years ago | Reply So, the engineers who built this mall are not part of the "elite" who are exempted from entry fee. All the engineers have to pay.

Umer | 9 years ago | Reply Pindi boys were loitering the place but it shud be a 1000

Umer | 9 years ago | Reply Well done gud work

Indian | 9 years ago | Reply @Adeel Daftary: Capital of Pakistan and only one mall. Taken aback !!!!

JSM | 9 years ago | Reply Another joke fro Pakistan. ET: Publish it if you like it

huda shahzad | 9 years ago | Reply Get over it Islamabad! This is inequality! If they had a problem with the crowd, well it is a mall, isn't it supposed to be crowded? Aren't 'pindi boys' Pakistani?! Or Human?! For me this is a matter of human disgrace! Nobody gave you the right to judge and classify humans! If families are having trouble in shopping, or if someone mocks them up well what is the centaurus management there for than? Most of the malls have these problems but they know how to deal with them better then 'THE CENTAURUS' " ISLAMABAD YOU DIGUST ME! "

farhan dar | 9 years ago | Reply We should move on to a civilized society where people can respect each and every ethnic group,class and culture.in short we should accept cultural diversity and avoid discrimination on the bases of class system.exemption of people from 23 different disciplines tells us that we are still following the era of colonalization,where rulling and underprivileged people are seperated in the socitey.if going to a shopping mall is concern then underprivileged people have same rights as richer one's.i read people posting comments about poor poeple taking pictures and making noises,so i must say they never had opportunity to be like you people or may be they haven't seen malls like centaurus in islamabad,so accept and respect the diversity and stop making classes.show your care and love for your nation because everyone here in this world dont have equal rights and opportunities.And the last thing its not a zoo or disney land where you have to pay money to get an entry,its shopping mall which is suppose to be open for everyone. #momentofshame #CEO #CENTAURUS #SARDARTANVIRILLYAS

Muhammad Arslan | 9 years ago | Reply This is the issue of Pakistani "Discrimination" everywhere.....if u guys wanna impose any sort of charge then make it for everyone.

observer | 9 years ago | Reply This should hardly surprise anyone. After all, Pakistan was created to protect the land, wealth and power of the Indian Muslim elite. This Centaurus edict just follows the old matlab and founding reason of Pakistan.

zain | 9 years ago | Reply Very pathetic class discrimination No doubt customer is the main asset but entry fee should be equal for all

Danish Malik | 9 years ago | Reply At one hand this decision is raising the issue of "status and caste" and the other hand it is raising a debate of pindi boys. First of all, every single person is wrong when he uses the phrase pindi boys, its wrong no matter what. Secondly, its only the burger family bragging about the issue. Centaurus is no doubt a symbol for "class" but all the levels of classes "visit" Centaurus, why allow one free (as it refunds while shopping) and ban window shopping (clearly). Centaurus has just put a bad example!

Omer | 9 years ago | Reply By the way why are doctors are on the list but not engineers. Doesn't matter I am not going anyways.

Omer | 9 years ago | Reply To all the people saying that the mall is a private property and reserves the right of entry. This particular question was taken up by the US Supreme Court in 1968. It held that a shopping mall was the modern equivalent of main street, the "normal municipal business district." It concluded that the landowner could not "limit the use of that property by members of the public in a manner that would not be permissible were the property owned by a municipality." The matter was subsequently deemed to fall under states' domain. To me the question is not of a mere 100 Rs fee but of discrimination and prejudice.

Mahira | 9 years ago | Reply Sir, there's a difference between "rights of admission reserved" and charging money to enter a shopping mall ! Any group / individual seen loitering can be politely asked to leave..that's the right given to all public / private places. And Charging money for the car park is a totally different thing..but no where in the world have I seen malls putting a price to a certain group of people to enter their premises!! I think that's something very low and if they really wanted to limit people, it should've Been for all. After all, whats Rs 100 for our elite? @Sajjad Ashraf:

Omer | 9 years ago | Reply @Mansoor: Totally agree with you on this. I did my eid shopping (at least a part of it) today from another mall in Jinnah super. #Boycott Centaurus

zohaib | 9 years ago | Reply Rs. 100 is not a big deal. It must be at least Rs. 500. Its necessary for making it neat clean for family atmosphere. #Seriously

Omer | 9 years ago | Reply @Muteeb Raza: You are being quite rude ( offense intended). This just creates another barrier between the haves and the have nots in a society that is already deeply segmented.

Syeda Umme Kulso, | 9 years ago | Reply a good step .. it's actually to avoid those bunch of stupid people who come and openly besharmo ko tarah take pictures of mothers, sisters, daughter or what so ever which is ruining the environment and i totally stand with the decision made by the mall's administration !

A poond | 9 years ago | Reply Oh Noooooo, poondi tax!!!

fahim | 9 years ago | Reply Why banker profession is not exempted from entry coupon although large and good salary people go for shopping

Mrs Juicy Gossips | 9 years ago | Reply @Mahira: I know what you mean, sister. Some of those lecherous old geezers should first take a good look at themselves in the mirror before hitting the Malls for a day of eyeballing Hi-So babes like us ! I tell you, its enough to drive any respectable lass into purdah.

Fahad | 9 years ago | Reply Jim Khana, really, Centaurus management?

Rean | 9 years ago | Reply I visiter a mall.in san Fransisco and it has a lot of homeless guys wandering insdie ... @PakProtector:

Rehman Saleem | 9 years ago | Reply fee should be 10000. So ppl can shop peacefully

Qadir | 9 years ago | Reply This elite is literally untouchable and unaccountable no matter what it does to the common man. It is things like these that make people support the Taliban. The elite better be careful because exactly these things spark revolutions

Mansoor | 9 years ago | Reply If Centaurus cannot do the civilized thing and treat all customers equally, then all of us must do the civilized thing and BOYCOTT this mall. But the elite who have been exempted have the most power to have this move reversed because only their boycott will have any meaningful influence. However, this petty, arrogant and self-centered elite must be celebrating in joy at this barbarity.

Sajjad Ashraf | 9 years ago | Reply This is absolutely necessary. Pakistanis are free riders - this happens nowhere in the world. We want everything free - there is a cost to everything. Rights of Admission are Reserved at all public places. I go a step forward - charge for car parking and exempt those who produce receipt of purchase. Well done Centaurus. The government machinery should support and standby the right of the management.

Mahira | 9 years ago | Reply My Gosh! What discrimination !!! I think each and every person should be made to pay ..why just a select group of citizens? Don't any of the above mentioned "loitter" or goggle at ladies while sipping a cup of coffee? Sorry to say but our older men who have the money are the worst of the lot .. Standing there in their starched clothes looking at every femal passerby. I'm sorry but I' don't support Centaurus Mall - the rule should be for ALL.

Fardad Ali Shah | 9 years ago | Reply The long list of exceptions to the rule speaks of an uncivilised society -more than the window shopping pindi boys. Different rules for different people, disgusting, speaks of an ever slavish mindset. We should follow civilised countries and apply rules upon all, from the president the COAS, the CJ down to the man in the street all should be made to pay the fee whatever it is.. When will we become civilised?

Zubair | 9 years ago | Reply If this 100 rupee entry fee was meant to keep Pindi Boys out then that is a silly idea. Islamabad has just one shopping mall conveniently located somewhere where (before the Metrobus) only those with cars could reach. There are too many smaller but just as high-class malls opened up in Rawalpindi's commercial areas, easily accessible on foot, where they can shop or loiter around. They don't need to do that at the Centaurus, so this entry fee is just an elitist move.

Mrs Juicy Gossips | 9 years ago | Reply @PakProtector: FYI some of the greatest "eveteasers" are from the elite, and it amounts to a lot more than just that ! So take your uppity, petty-beaugouis values and stuff it where the sun don't shine !

Waqas | 9 years ago | Reply Gender discrimination

Adeel Daftary | 9 years ago | Reply In January this year my wife wanted to see the mall she heard so much about I was like, it’s just A MALL you have plenty in Karachi and even bigger ones, she was like we are in Islamabad now so we should see and do some shopping, when we reached there I was surprised see the 50 to 70 people in line, I was like whats this line for? they said security check, ok I was like lets go through this stupid hazel, and I when I got inside I was really disappointed, it’s Just a MALL, a stupid common Mall, like every other mall I asked the security guy don’t you have malls in Islamabad , he was like no sir this is only one, So I pray that people built more malls in Islamabad so the poor people of Islamabad will have more places to go shopping. I still laugh on myself today that I went through all this stupidity to get in to a Shopping Mall.

Waqar | 9 years ago | Reply In North Korea, people need special permits (a sort of an internal visa if you will) in order to travel outside their towns/cities to other parts of their own country. Why not just do the same here and enforce a similar internal visa for Islamabad? Then all the other self-respecting cities and towns of this country can do the same and impose their own visas on the people of Islamabad.

GA | 9 years ago | Reply Why not just enforce a visa to enter Islamabad...which by the way is not as clean or charming as made out to be by Islooites. Its still feels like a third world city when you visit from the developed world.

Fahad | 9 years ago | Reply @Ashraf: "All Punjabis are exempted too." So Pindi Boys aren't Punjabis?

Sara | 9 years ago | Reply @PakProtector: "Much appreciated, It should be rupees 500 coupen, By this all eveteaser and window shoppers will be discouraged, I have visited much bigger malls worldwide, but never saw such time wasting public, Just standing, stalking and gazing… And the real source of discouragment for real shoppers with families…," Then would you please mind explaining to us this long list of ridiculous exceptions?

Saad | 9 years ago | Reply The Centaurus should've just put out a sign saying "no non-elite allowed."

Hashim | 9 years ago | Reply Look, I have numerous school, college and office friends from Rawalpindi, and all of them are very decent boys and some of the nicest human beings I have ever met, in fact they are survivors of a harsher environment. They are not they type who would just loiter around in public malls or harass girls, but they have now been slapped with this absurd fee categorizing them with a ridiculous prejudice when they didn't deserve it, while these rich and elite exceptions who pose a danger to our very lives and security get a free pass.

Haseeb | 9 years ago | Reply Well, now please kick Pindi Boys out of all of Islamabad's schools and colleges unless they pay a higher amount set specifically for them. Throw them out of all offices in Islamabad where they work unless they have a special fee cut from their salaries for the honor of working in Islamabad, and toss Pindi Boy patients being treated in Islamabad's hospitals unless they pay higher medical bills set specifically for them. Yes let's slide further down this rabbit hole of stupidity. This is only the logical extension of the Centaurus' new move.

Umber | 9 years ago | Reply Look, all of you harping on about how this is such a good measure because the unwanted visitors had ruined that place, etc. This line of argument would have made sense if that Rs.100 had been imposed on EVERYONE. Then all those not seriously there to shop would have stayed away. Having so many exceptions (and elitist nonsensical exceptions at that) shows that that Rs. 100 is not to keep Pindi Boys or anyone else undesirable out and provide a suitable atmosphere. Please stop all your disingenuous spinning for an indefensible act.

Salima | 9 years ago | Reply Well, everyone knew that mall was always for the rich and elite. The Centaurus management just dropped all pretenses of free access for all and became more honest that it was elitist and anti-commoner. I have to thank them for this honesty so that I, a commoner, can now stay away from this mall and shop somewhere else, thus proudly putting my money where my allies are.

Nadeem ur Rehamn | 9 years ago | Reply Instead of charging money they could have gone for the option of "Family Day(s)" on weekends. No body would have accused them of discrimination in that case,unless Centaurus management itself wants to discriminate.

Ch. Allah Daad | 9 years ago | Reply It a private property, therefore owners have a legal right to impose restrictions and charge a fee. At such places, the nasty groups of male teens are a nuisance. Save your business from them and take it to new heights. Good luck.

Hamza | 9 years ago | Reply Its a pathetic move. Discriminating against poor people will create resentment and a sense of inferiority complex.Secondly all those people supporting it and nay saying that random people stroll around, So WHAT, people should be able to roam freely at least in their own country.Shame on the management!

socialist | 9 years ago | Reply Here is something the dolmen mall in Karachi does. So they have family day on Saturdays and Sundays. Now they do not let in only male groups on these days, which is fine. However whenever a large prado with guards in it arrives and there are men only inside it, the amazing dolmen security does nothing to stop them. I am a witness to such gross discimination which is openly prevalent in karachi aswell.

Safdar | 9 years ago | Reply They forgot to mention students exemption thou!

Mrs Juicy Gossips | 9 years ago | Reply @Ashraf: Awww shucks, it ain't fair that me and Mr Zardari have to fork out that entry fee !

The Saint | 9 years ago | Reply Many of the Karachi's places have such controls, e.g. they only allow 'families' that means on females and males accompanying females.... the 'family' does not count male only pair or group :-)

AA | 9 years ago | Reply @zain: How does sexism apply here ?

Humza | 9 years ago | Reply What about the boys those are residents of Islamabad? And students of universities of Islamabad?

Awais | 9 years ago | Reply I read someone tweet that jansher khan and jehnagir khan would have to pay for entry in centaurus.. they could've asked someone to have a second look at their notice. Its so idiotic it is sad

Pervez Mohsin, | 9 years ago | Reply Good step

Proud Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply @Ashraf: Very coooooooool.

Shashi | 9 years ago | Reply Jim Khana????? Old Age Citizens above 60 years of age????? Special People????? Whoever drafted and released this notice ought to be summarily sacked for such atrocious English.

pacer | 9 years ago | Reply Why not charge everyone 100Rs entry irrespective of social class. Is centaurus management worried that their rich and famous visitors are too cheap to pay the entry fee and would instead prefer to turn their backs on them?

zain | 9 years ago | Reply sexism and discrimination on the basis social status at its best

Anon | 9 years ago | Reply "Some pretty gross and messed up elitism by the Centaurus Mall in Islamabad here. Too many poors visiting I guess" Spot on!

Ashraf | 9 years ago | Reply All Punjabis are exempted too.

Heman | 9 years ago | Reply Very Good move,,,

Zeeshan | 9 years ago | Reply No matter what Centaurus management says it is an act of class discrimination. I remember reading a book "the white tiger" in which not so well dressed people who seemed poor are not allowed to enter shopping malls in India and are beaten by the guards if they try to. I cannot believe this is happening in my own country. The whole campaign that had started since inauguration of metro bus has come to its climax.

Muteeb Raza | 9 years ago | Reply i think it is a very brave and good decision as mall got filled up with pindi boys (no offense),it was very difficult for me to do shopping with my family in rush hour and environment became very unpleasant for families. People have to realize it is a mall not a Park, they to go to a park for picnic not to the Mall as it became very easy for pindi boys to buy a metro bus ticket and reach to mall for loitering.

credulous | 9 years ago | Reply Its apathetically pathetic. Since, most of the lot even does not fall near to the mentioned criteria, how come ordinary citizens could enter the mall. The saddest plight is, now in the so called elite shopping malls, the social division with a filthy mindset prevails.

Raja Zed | 9 years ago | Reply That's a wonderful step taken by Centaurus Mall management. I practically observed countless boys who keep on goggling around.

Taimur | 9 years ago | Reply It should be Rs. 100 for everyone.

Zohaib Jamal | 9 years ago | Reply It is a good step...but it need that if some body go to centorus if they are a boy or a girl or a famous man or any one else...so it do not need to pay entry fees but those who come just for fun e.g ( time pass) and not for shopping will pay fee..

vicktor d'souza | 9 years ago | Reply What a joke!! Centaurus has created a caste system where the 'untouchables' are forced to pay to have the privilege of rubbing shoulders with the 'brahmans'. If the Mall insists on weaseling more money from its customers, factor in higher prices on goods for one and all. But this lame excuse of overcrowding just doesn't cut it !

PakProtector | 9 years ago | Reply Much appreciated, It should be rupees 500 coupen, By this all eveteaser and window shoppers will be discouraged, I have visited much bigger malls worldwide, but never saw such time wasting public, Just standing, stalking and gazing... And the real source of discouragment for real shoppers with families...,

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