So marvellous has been the sincerity of our nation that I cannot at times help but appreciate (the cynic that I am). In the aftermath of this devastating earthquake the whole nation of 160 million civilians got its act together and did what even the best nations of this world would look upon with an eye of envy. The generated response was a matter of minutes to hours and not days. Everyone was willing to help and lend a hand, irrespective of the qualifications.
During these relief efforts I have been close to many who have been at the helm of affairs. One phrase that I have heard so very frequently has probably become the golden phrase of the time. You ask anyone rushing to the scene of catastrophe and he would answer, "I wish to help them, even if that means picking up a few pieces of rubble and thus easing the pain." From mere school children to adults from every walk of life joined hands in this spirit and this is what is so marvellous about this nation...amazing!
Media has been at the forefront of this movement. Had this not been for the active coverage of the disaster by the private media channels no one would have known the toll of damage and misery that befell our countrymen. One obvious exception ofcourse is our state media that is PTV (Pakistan Television Network). They have always painted a complacent and beautiful picture of the tragedy and the subsequent relief efforts. But then again that type of coverage is done keeping in mind the dictator and his cronies. I was completely out of touch with our so called national TV channel for past 5 years but recently have had a considerable dose of their 'entertainment'. I have not had the honour of actually watching a propaganda state media TV in any of the communist countries but from whatever idea I have I can bet my life that PTV is no better. There have been numerous shortcomings in the reporting of events by other private channels as well but PTV takes the cake.
The role of mobile telecommunication has also evolved in this crisis. Within minutes the news of the damage were on every mobile screen. Similarly most of the relief efforts by the civilians were initially coordinated through mobile communications. As the phrase goes, 'from Khyber to Mehran' people were talking of providing relief and materializing their thoughts subsequently. All this was possible through the wide availability of mobile communication in almost every part of the country. It is another thing that mobile communication giants in our country must have made billions on account of this increased traffic but they only contributed very little to the relief efforts monetarily. They have been big loosers in this race for helping humanity. I would not shy away from naming my mobile carrier which incidentally is the largest mobile carrier of this country, Mobilink GSM. This company boasts of 9 million customers in this country yet it didn't provide any sort of rate cuts or anything to those who were using its services for providing relief. All they could do was install their boosters on PTCL infrastructures already present in the affected areas and thus increase their earnings. Mobilink indeed is a money making machine and I will get rid of it soon InshaAllah.
During these relief efforts I have been close to many who have been at the helm of affairs. One phrase that I have heard so very frequently has probably become the golden phrase of the time. You ask anyone rushing to the scene of catastrophe and he would answer, "I wish to help them, even if that means picking up a few pieces of rubble and thus easing the pain." From mere school children to adults from every walk of life joined hands in this spirit and this is what is so marvellous about this nation...amazing!
Media has been at the forefront of this movement. Had this not been for the active coverage of the disaster by the private media channels no one would have known the toll of damage and misery that befell our countrymen. One obvious exception ofcourse is our state media that is PTV (Pakistan Television Network). They have always painted a complacent and beautiful picture of the tragedy and the subsequent relief efforts. But then again that type of coverage is done keeping in mind the dictator and his cronies. I was completely out of touch with our so called national TV channel for past 5 years but recently have had a considerable dose of their 'entertainment'. I have not had the honour of actually watching a propaganda state media TV in any of the communist countries but from whatever idea I have I can bet my life that PTV is no better. There have been numerous shortcomings in the reporting of events by other private channels as well but PTV takes the cake.
The role of mobile telecommunication has also evolved in this crisis. Within minutes the news of the damage were on every mobile screen. Similarly most of the relief efforts by the civilians were initially coordinated through mobile communications. As the phrase goes, 'from Khyber to Mehran' people were talking of providing relief and materializing their thoughts subsequently. All this was possible through the wide availability of mobile communication in almost every part of the country. It is another thing that mobile communication giants in our country must have made billions on account of this increased traffic but they only contributed very little to the relief efforts monetarily. They have been big loosers in this race for helping humanity. I would not shy away from naming my mobile carrier which incidentally is the largest mobile carrier of this country, Mobilink GSM. This company boasts of 9 million customers in this country yet it didn't provide any sort of rate cuts or anything to those who were using its services for providing relief. All they could do was install their boosters on PTCL infrastructures already present in the affected areas and thus increase their earnings. Mobilink indeed is a money making machine and I will get rid of it soon InshaAllah.
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