Non-Resident Pakistanis

Mohammed Naqvi

2008-09-16T10:58:00.006-04:00

The story of Mukhataran Mai touched many, but only few of us have done what Mohammed Naqvi, the Pakistani American filmmaker, has.

He has made a feature-length documentary on Mukhtaran Mai that celebrates her strength to emerge as a human rights icon symbolizing social change.

“Shame” is the name of the documentary. So far, it has received numerous awards, including a Television Academy Honor presented by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The awards that the filmmaker, Mohammed Naqvi, has won include:

- Overseas Press Club of America's Carl Spielvogel Award

- South Asian Journalist Award

- Amnesty International Humanitarian Award

- EBS International Documentary Festival Special Jury Prize

- Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Award

So, who is Mohammed Naqvi?

Ofcourse, he is an NRP.

He was born in Karachi, Pakistan and grew up in North America.

Only few of us know that he made the award-winning documentary, “Terror’s Children”, which saw the launch of Discovery-Times Channel.

He is also the producer of Big River, a narrative feature, which was screened at Berlin Film Festival.

For this creative soul, there is no stopping….

Mariam

2008-09-08T10:39:00.001-04:00

IMG_0558, originally uploaded by nrpglobal.

Always smiling:)

Durre, Aasia, Zeba

2008-09-08T10:37:00.001-04:00

IMG_0557, originally uploaded by nrpglobal.

Planning Experts!

Sophia Aslam

2008-09-08T10:35:00.001-04:00

IMG_0556, originally uploaded by nrpglobal.

In conversation...

Faisal and Huma Irshad

2008-09-08T10:33:00.001-04:00

IMG_0555, originally uploaded by nrpglobal.

A Newly Married Couple!

Iftar 2008

2008-09-08T10:30:00.001-04:00

IMG_0553, originally uploaded by nrpglobal.

Where is my hookah?

CAMP-NY Iftar

2008-09-08T10:24:00.000-04:00

اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّى لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ امنْتُ [وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ] وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ اَفْطَرْتُ

O Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You [and I put my trust in You] and I break my fast with Your sustenance

While breaking the fast, more than 140 Muslim professionals in NYC recited the dua (prayer) as they gathered for Iftar arranged by New York Chapter of the Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals (CAMP-NY), on September 5, 2008.

CAMP is a not-for-profit organization for Muslim professionals, based in North America. It provides professional and social networking opportunities to Muslim community through educational, social and intellectual activities.

Zeba Iqbal is CAMP International’s Vice Chair, and the officers of CAMP’s New York Chapter are Mariam Mohaideen (President), Aasia Idris (Treasurer), Uzma Kaleem (Secretary), Durre Hanif (External Affairs).

The iftar was arranged at Al-Diwan restaurant. The scrumptious Lebanese food and generous hospitality (thanks to CAMP-NY officers and Al Diwan’s staff) made the evening memorable for most of us.

Questions

2008-09-04T12:14:00.001-04:00

- Non-Resident Pakistanis remit over five and a half billion dollars per year in remittances to the country. But, the economic development of the country remains sketchy.

Why?

- According to a UK-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UKPCCI) report, there are more than 100 multi-millionaire Pakistanis in the UK. Yet, they are not investing in Pakistan.

Reasons?????

These questions may appear simple but are thought-provoking.

Let’s analyze….

Feedback appreciated…

Naya Jeevan for Kids

2008-09-02T13:09:00.005-04:00

Asclepius learnt the art of healing from Chiron [a healer and a teacher], but the NJFK team has learnt it from the victims: the socioeconomically disadvantaged children in developing countries.

NJFK is the acronym for a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to providing free/ subsidized healthcare to children in developing countries with an initial focus on India and Pakistan.

NJFK, as a social enterprise, uses corporate principles to create an impact on society. This brilliant idea by young Pakistani social entrepreneurs has had been acknowledged at an international platform. The NJFK team has won NYU Stern’s annual business plan competition in April 2008.

Today, nrpglobal provides the highlights of its discussion about the project with the Vice President of NJFK, Mr. Saad Tabani.

Obviously, my first and foremost query was about NJFK.

How did it begin?

“It was Asher Hasan’s brainchild, who is a doctor by profession. Asher’s first-hand experiences gave him this idea. I met him at NYU, while he was looking for other team members for the project,” said Saad, over a cup of coffee, at Bryant Park, in New York. “All members of the team thought that it would be best to take it to a recognized platform, such as NYU Stern’s annual business plan competition, where we won $75,000 for our business plan.”

In layperson’s terms, this project aims to provide health insurance to citizens in developing countries. “There is no health coverage to support catastrophic health conditions in countries such as Pakistan, and we are trying to ensure that there is,” said Saad. “We would also like to ensure that the quality of healthcare facilities provided is the same for all.”

According to the World Health Organization, Pakistan’s total health expenditures amounted to 3.9 percent of gross domestic product in 2001, and per capita health expenditures were US$16.

The Pakistani government has undertaken several initiatives to address the situation. One example of such an initiative is Pakistan's Social Action Program (SAP), which is largely funded by the Pakistani government and the World Bank. There are concerns about the productivity of these programs, given the absence of community ownership of socially viable projects.

But, with initiatives such as Naya Jeevan (new life) where communities organize, create, and manage social enterprises; there is nayee umeed (new hope) for us.

What do you think?

Ramadan Mubarak

2008-09-01T15:46:00.002-04:00

Hello: Ramadan Mubarak to all of you.

Ramadan and Rooh Afza

2008-08-28T13:33:00.000-04:00

There is no iftaar without Rooh Afza and pakoras with tamarind chutney.

The deep-red sharbat and mummy’s home-cooked scrumptious, signature food has had been irreplaceable ever since I moved away from Pakistan.

But, I, like other NRPs, make an effort to cherish the festivals with similar zeal and fervor – the way we celebrated in Pakistan.

The small things/items that tickle my past are the brands we associate Pakistan with, such as Rooh Afza Sharbat, Lipton Chai, Ahmed Achaar, and Shaan Masala.

As Ramdan starts in less than a week’s time, nrpglobal promises to share iftaar experiences. If you have any of your Iftaar stories/pictures, please email us.

Tariq Ali

2008-08-27T19:01:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THE DUEL by Tariq Ali Publication Date: September 16, 2008 Contact: Katie Monaghan Associate Director Scribner Publicity 212-632-4950 katherine.monaghan@simonandschuster.com

FROM THE AUTHOR OF CAN PAKISTAN SURVIVE?, A PROVOCATIVE NEW LOOK AT PAKISTAN’S TURBULENT PAST AND UNCERTAIN FUTURE

THE DUEL

PAKISTAN ON THE FLIGHT PATH OF AMERICAN POWER

by Tariq Ali

“Pakistan is our partner in the war on terror…It is also a major source of Islamist extremism.”

—Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, addressing the U.S. Senate, January 2007

“Ali carefully examines Pakistan’s long, troubled relationship with America... intense, closely observed commentary on perilous developments in an unstable nation.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“A veteran journalist on Pakistan, Ali reviews the country’s six-decade political history critically, indicting the leadership class and its ties to the U.S. Viewing the country as in neocolonial thrall to U.S. strategic interests, Ali comments freely in a narrative that acquaints readers with the country’s main political events…The military being the dominant feature of Pakistani politics, Ali applies his caustic pen to descriptions of its leaders … Ali offers strongly argued opinions on the past, and his preferred future, of Pakistani politics.” –Booklist Pakistan is the world’s sixth most populous country and the only Islamic state with nuclear weapons. It is the likely hideout of Osama bin-Laden and a staging ground for Taliban forces fighting NATO in Afghanistan. Yet the country is also a key ally of the United States in the war on terror and the beneficiary of over ten billion dollars in US aid since September 11. In THE DUEL: Pakistan on the Flight Path of American Power (September 16, 2008, $26.00), Tariq Ali explores the uneasy alliance between the United States and Pakistan and the deepening political crisis inflaming an already unstable region.

Ali draws on extensive first-hand research and personal knowledge of many of the key players involved to assess the causes and consequences of Pakistan’s rapid spiral into political chaos. In the wake of Pervez Musharraf’s resignation, the most likely political alternatives, Benazir’s widower Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are, Ali, argues, more corrupt than Musharraf himself. The chances of stability in Pakistan look slim – and the consequences of an unstable Pakistan are terrifying for the region and the world. THE DUEL is a timely and provocative must-read.

Praise for Tariq Ali’s The Clash of Fundamentalisms:

“Ali locates the flexible, skeptical, hedonistic traditions within Islamic thinking... whom the fundamentalists wish to silence.”

— Fred Halliday, The Los Angeles Times Book Review

“Urbane, highly intelligent and vividly written. One hopes this fine study will earn no fatwa.”

— Richard Sennett, Times Literary Supplement

“Timely and important...[Ali] is lucid, eloquent, literary, and painfully honest, as he dissects both Islamic and Western fundamentalism.”

— Howard Zinn

About the author:

Writer, journalist and film-maker Tariq Ali was born in Lahore and was educated at Oxford University, where he was president of the Oxford Union (a position subsequently occupied by Benazir Bhutto). He has campaigned against wars from Vietnam to Iraq. Today he writes regularly for a range of publications including The Guardian, The Nation and The London Review of Books and is on the editorial board of New Left Review. He has written more than a dozen books including non-fiction such as Can Pakistan Survive? The Clash of Fundamentalisms, Bush in Babylon and Pirates of the Caribbean, and fiction including Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree, The Stone Woman and A Sultan in Palermo, as well scripts for both stage and screen. He lives in London.

ABOUT SIMON & SCHUSTER

Simon & Schuster, a part of the CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Online, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonsays.com

Wamiq Jawaid

2008-08-25T21:09:00.001-04:00

Wamiq Jawaid, originally uploaded by nrpglobal.

Syed Wamiq Jawaid is a cultural and socio-economic analyst on the Muslim communities around the world.
http://wamiqjawaid.blogspot.com/

Dr. Hina Chaudhry

2008-08-25T21:08:00.001-04:00

Dr. Hina Chaudhry, originally uploaded by nrpglobal.

Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, VentriNova Inc.

Farhan Tahir

2008-08-25T21:03:00.001-04:00

Farhan Tahir, originally uploaded by nrpglobal.

The man on the left is Farhan Tahir. Viewers must have watched this Pakistani-American in Hollywood movies, namely Iron Man and Charlie Wilson's War.

Guests

2008-08-25T20:59:00.001-04:00

Guests, originally uploaded by nrpglobal.

Event Discussions

Mr. Sheheryar Azhar

2008-08-25T20:58:00.001-04:00

Mr. Sheheryar Azhar, originally uploaded by nrpglobal.

The host of top rated talk show on ARY Digital and ARY One World, Shaheryar Azhar was the key moderator of the Non Resident Pakistani Summit - 2008.

2008-08-25T20:44:00.000-04:00

NRP Summit 2008 - Schedule

2008-08-21T14:30:00.000-04:00

Friday: 8.00 am Registration Opens 9:00 – 11.00 am PAKISTAN – 160 MILLION CUSTOMERS – DOING BUSINESS IN PAKISTAN 1. Mahmood Shaukat, Chairman & CEO NRP Summit 2. Shaheryar Azhar, Moderator Principal Speaker 3. Husain Haqqani, Pakistan Ambassador to USA 4. Rana Masood, Deputy Speaker, Punjab National Assembly 5. Javed Hashmi, Senior VP, PML (N) Member National Assembly 11:15 – 12:00pm IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN IN A GLOBAL VILLAGE 1. Marvin Weinbaum 12:00 – 1:00 pm LUNCH BREAK 1:00 – 2:00 pm IT – PAKISTAN, A BUSINESS ADVANTAGE 1. Hasan Naqvi, President & CEO, CMI Group, Canada 2. Iqtadar Zaidi, President & CEO, Techaccess, Pakistan 3. Imran Haque, Director of IT, Pfizer 2:00 – 3:00 pm EDUCATION & HEALTH – NEEDS & OPPORTUNITIES 1. Dr. Hina Chaudhry, Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, VentriNova Inc.. 2. Tasnim Shaheryar, President, Dil Foundation 3. Misbah Naqvi, Manager Special Projects, Acumen Fund 3:00 – 4:00 pm PAKISTANI MEDIA INDUSTRY 1. Tahir Khan, Chairman, Interflow Group of Companies 2. Shahid Khan, Senior Partner, IBB Consulting 1. Farah K. Ahmed Esq. Director, South Asian Media Association 4:00 – 5:00 pm LIVING IN PEACE – 21ST CENTURY ISLAM 1. Dr. Saud Anwar, President- PAKPAC 2. Dr. Saleem Mir 3. Taha Gaya, Executive Director, PAL-C 7:00 – 8:00 pm Refreshments & Networking Saturday: 9:00 – 10:00 am SECURING ENERGY – ASSETS & INFRASTRUCTURE 1. Parvez Mahmood, Chairman, One World Consulting 2. Bob Brown, Executive Vice Chairman, Cathy Oil, Canada 3. Sadiq H. Zaidi, President, Renaissance Energy Consultants 4. Natasha Paracha, Chairman Pakistan Affairs, UN International Renewable Energy Organization 10:00 – 11.00 am LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS THROUGH ETHICAL BUSINESS 1. Masood Jabbar – Chairman of the Board, Picsel Technologies & Former President Sun Microsystems 2. Malik Sarwar, Head of US Business, Permal Group 3. Amyn J. Merchant, Sen Partner and MD, The Boston Consulting Group 4. Kashif Zafar, Managing Director and Head of US Rates Sales, Barclays Capital 11:00 – 12.00 pm MANAGING BUSINESS IN TURBULENT TIMES 1. Junaid Rubbani, President & Managing Partner, Combinatorics Capital, LLC 2. Farhan Sharaf, President, MJX Capital Advisors 3. Nassar Ahmed, Co-Founder DiMaio Ahmad Capital L.L.C. 12:00 – 1:00 pm LUNCH BREAK 1:00 – 2:00 pm INVESTING IN PAKISTAN & PAKISTANIS 1. Rana Imtiaz Khan, Partner, Jensen & Meyers 2. Saleem Muqaddam 3. Shahid Khan 2:00 – 3:00 pm THE SECRET OF OUR SUCCESS 1. Imran Khan – CEO, Al-Baraka 2. Dr. Imran Shah, Co-founder & Managing Partner IBB Consulting 3. Mansoor Ahmed, Deputy Associate Dir. of Space Science at NASA 3:00 – 4:00 pm EMPOWERING WOMEN 1. Fawzia Afzal Khan 2. Ulya Khan, Sr. VP, Global Head of Program & Business Operations, Thompson Reuters 3. Dr. Rosina Samdani, Founder & President Capella Advisors 4. Amina Khan, Esq. Wealth Counsellors, PC 4:00 – 5:00 pm A TIME FOR OPTIMISM - Shaheryar Azhar 5:00 – 5:15 Chairman’s Closing Remarks PAKISTAN TRADE EXHIBITS: August 22 & 23 9:00 AM TO 6:00 PM

Philanthropic Contributions by NRPs in U.S.A - Part 2

2008-08-21T12:02:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I discussed the PCP study on NRPs’ philanthropic contributions in the United States. Today, we will discuss the structural hurdles that make it difficult for NRPs to give more to Pakistan. “The first barrier is the chronic lack of trust in the civic sector in Pakistan. The second hurdle is the lack of convenient mechanisms to transfer funds to Pakistan and unclear US regulations about charitable giving abroad (especially after 9/11). There is also a dearth of reliable mechanisms to monitor the performance of organizations and a lack of opportunities to interact directly with organizations and their workers. The third constraint is that there is very little information available to Pakistani-Americans about philanthropic organizations in Pakistan.” Source: A Pakistan Center for Philanthropy Study This study was funded by a grant from The Rockefeller Foundation USA and commissioned to the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy through the Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. The field research was conducted by a team of fifteen researchers led by Professor Adil Najam, Associate Professor of International Negotiation & Diplomacy, The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University. Note: NRP Summit is tomorrow (Friday) and the day after. As I will be at the event, I may not be able to post on these days. But, I promise to upload pics and event details soon.

Philanthropy by NRPs in the U.S.

2008-08-20T17:46:00.000-04:00

According to a PCP study on philanthropic practices by Pakistani Diaspora in the USA, the community annually contributes $ 250 m in cash and kind and nearly 43.5 m hours of volunteered time, which is approximately US$ 1 billion per year. Other key findings from this study suggest the following: On average, the Pakistani- American household contributes 3.5% of its income. The largest chunk of overall giving goes directly to individuals in immediate need, rather than to institutions and organized charities. Pakistani Diaspora believes that giving directly to the needy and the deserving is superior to institutional giving. Kinship networks of friends and extended family (as opposed to organized charities) play a critical role in this direct giving to needy individuals. A sense of faith-based moral duty to be charitable and to give to the poor is a major motivator of philanthropy by Pakistani Diaspora in the US, but faith-based organizations are not a major direct recipient of their giving. Their faith-motivated giving is mostly channeled directly to the poor and deserving individuals in dire need. The desire to help individuals in need is cited as an even more important reason to give than the motivation of faith. Social issues – especially the issue of poverty and helping the needy but also including education, health, civil and human rights, and community development – are amongst the most cited issues that people contribute to and wish to contribute to. The other findings of this study discuss the hurdles that make it difficult to give more to Pakistan. I shall highlight those tomorrow. Source: A Pakistan Center for Philanthropy Study This study was funded by a grant from The Rockefeller Foundation USA and commissioned to the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy through the Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. The field research was conducted by a team of fifteen researchers led by Professor Adil Najam, Associate Professor of International Negotiation & Diplomacy, The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University.

Behind the Scenes with Pakistani-American Filmmakers

2008-08-19T19:11:00.000-04:00

OPEN NY invites you to an exclusive evening with seven inspiring and innovative Pakistani-American filmmakers as they take to screen their most recent work, relive their stories and challenges, and discuss the global future of Pakistani filmmakers. OPEN hopes that this dialogue will inspire and create opportunities for young upcoming Pakistani-American filmmakers, and encourage new entrepreneurial ventures in the field of filmmaking. DATE: Thursday, August 21, 2008 6:00 - 6:30pm: Registration & Cocktails (preferred ticket holders have exclusive cocktails with the filmmakers) 6:30 - 9:00pm: Main Program -- Discussion & Screening of film clips 9:00 - 10:30pm: Cocktails, Light Dinner and Networking VENUE: Tribeca Grand Hotel (Grand Screen) http://www.tribecagrand.com/ TICKETS: $150 (Pre-event cocktails, Preferred Seating, OPEN NY 2008 membership); $100 http://www.myvillage.us/booking/book.asp?Ref=User&EventID=460 Special Guest: FARAN TAHIR -- Pakistani Hollywood actor who recently played some very interesting roles (Raza in IronMan, Brigadier Rashid in Charlie Wilson's War, Capt Robau in Star Trek). Featuring: AYAD AKHTAR is a writer, actor, director, and producer. He was nominated for 2006 Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay for 'The War Within' and he is also a founder of Coalition Films which is currently developing projects with stars Jamie Foxx and Alicia Keys, as well as visionary talents Aaron McGruder and Michael Muhammad Knight. http://www.coalition-films.com/ AYESHA KHAN is known for directing gripping short films, and most recently for her first feature film, 'Kashf -The Lifting of the Veil', shot entirely in Lahore, Pakistan, with a non-professional Pakistani cast and an international film crew from New York City. http://www.indusvalleyproductions.com/ AFIA SERENA NATHANIEL, labeled 'one of the best young minority filmmakers in the US,' has garnered critical appraise for her film, Long After, which bagged the prestigious HBO Development Award. She is currently in development with two feature length films in Pakistan and India. http://www.zambeelfilms.com JAFFAR MAHMOOD recently wrote and directed 'Shades of Ray,' a comedy about a half-Pakistani, half-Caucasian searching for his identity. Jaffar is now working with Outlaw Productions at Sony to secure financing for his script 'Arabian Knights,' a teen comedy set in Lahore. MEHREEN JABBAR is a 14-year veteran of the industry, with a prolific career as a Director/Producer of gritty, hard-hitting films for television. Her film 'Ramchand Pakistani', starring Nandita Das, was selected for the competition section of the Tribeca Film Festival 2008, and will be widely released in Pakistan this summer. http://www.mehreenjabbar.com/ MOHAMMED NAQVI is the producer/director of 'Shame', an award-winning documentary film depicting the case of Mukhtara Mai, which was showcased at both Toronto Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival. http://www.tightmedia.tv/ KIRAN KHALID, a noted broadcast journalist and documentary filmmaker and currently a producer for ABC’s “Good Morning America”, will moderate the panel. Also in attendance will be media and film executives. ----- OPEN is a voluntary not-for-profit association dedicated to the promotion of entrepreneurship within the Pakistani-American community. The organization was formed in 1998 and has chapters in Silicon Valley, New England, and New York. The association's charter is to provide networking opportunities and enhanced business opportunities for entrepreneurs and professionals. OPEN regularly organizes events pertaining to current issues in business and entrepreneurship. OPEN meetings and events are open to the public. OPEN-NY membership is open to people who are interested in promoting the goals of the organization.

Afia Serena Nathaniel

2008-08-18T16:25:00.000-04:00

Yes, the distinguished filmmaker who we referred to in our previous post is none other than Afia Serena Nathaniel.

Undoubtedly; she has the talent, recognition, and scripts to create magic with. But, she has limited funds to work with.

Recently, she is working on several projects – one of them is a road trip film, “where a couple of characters hop along in car or truck and film their road trip experience,” said Afia.

It is a feature film that would require sizeable investment, but lack of funds is a huge hindrance for her cinematic vision. “Whoever I have approached so far [in the West] say that before they invest any money in our project, they would like to see if there are investors in Pakistan suporting my film,” said Afia when nrpglobal caught up with her at a café in Brooklyn amidst loungy music and comfy couches.

Independent filmmakers in Pakistan have had a series of problem associated with lack of funds. Even Mehreen Jabbar, a recognized name in the media circles of Pakistan, had to rely on family and friends to produce her critically acclaimed, Ramchand Pakistani.

Afia considers the film “an eye-opening experience.” “Ramchand Pakistani and Khuda Key Liye have set up not just a new trend for independent filmmakers but also for cine-goers in Pakistan,” says Afia.

(Note: You can watch clips from both films under video bar)

In hopes of reviving cinema-going culture in Pakistan, Afia Serena Nathaniel has established her own production company, Zambeel films, in Pakistan. Through her production house, she also aims to financially support other independent film projects. But, who will financially support this exceptional filmmaker’s extra-ordinary artistic endeavors?

Guess Who?

2008-08-17T14:08:00.000-04:00

Pakistan’s first independent female filmmaker from minority background.

Master of Fine Arts in Film Directing from Columbia University.

She is the first Pakistani filmmaker whose feature screenplay has been selected as one of the top 100 screenplays from around the world by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of the Nicholl Fellowship 2008.

Her film project is the first Pakistani feature project to be officially selected at Tribeca Connect and IFP Market in 2005.

She has won Ezra Litwak Distinction in Screenwriting, IFP Market Best Screenplay and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association award.

Her directorial debut "Nadah" was nominated for the Golden Reel Award in Los Angeles together with her screenwriting debut of "Butterfly".

“Butterfly” secured the Best Film at Napa Valley, Ivy League and Lyon film festivals.

Who is she?

Do you want to know?

Nostalgia

2008-08-16T19:01:00.000-04:00

As we complete 61 years of our independence, we recall our days back home. For today, let’s observe the TV viewing patterns of non-resident Pakistanis on foreign lands. Three Cs - cricket, cultural dramas/events and current affairs programs - manifest the television viewing experience for non-resident Pakistanis.

Cricket has long been followed with passion and fervor. An important cricket match meant a lull day at work because the workers would be either cheering for their heroes in the stadium or rooting for them at home, watching TV. TV screens are a common sight even at educational institutes as well, especially during the Sharjah Cup and the World Cup.

Cricket to Pakistanis is like football (soccer) to the Americans. This fondness for cricket does not fritter away when Pakistanis leave their country. Their love for Pakistan and everything Pakistani accompanies them. In fact, there is a common sentiment amongst non-resident Pakistanis that echoes in their conversations, “Don’t think we are not Pakistani because we don’t live there. We are Pakistanis because we carry Pakistan in our heart."

Pakistanis celebrate this Pakistaniness on foreign soil in full swing with distinct cultural events, such as the Pakistan Independence Day parade and Pakistan Independence Day Concert.

In addition to fun and frolic the Pakistani Diaspora enjoy as part of their cultural experience in countries they are based in, hard-core serious news about and from their motherland add richness to the information they absorb from mainstream media. Given Pakistan’s newsworthiness now, the true picture of the situation in Pakistan comes from local news sources.

For Pakistanis, fascination for news is not a recent phenomenon though. Back home, even when news outlets were primitive, 30-minute long Khabarnama (News Bulletin) everyday at 9:00 p.m. on the government-owned Pakistan Television (PTV) had astounding viewership. Today, news sources are liberalized in the country, but Pakistanis’ love for current affairs programs remains unaltered, within and beyond Pakistani borders.

In addition to news and cultural events, non-resident Pakistanis are huge fans of plays (dramas). The high-quality dramas of PTV earned Pakistan great reputation in the genre even in neighboring country, India. Some of PTV’s popular TV dramas, such as Dhoop Kinarey and Tanhaiyaan, are still in the memory folder of fellow Indians also who recall watching the plays on VHS.

These plays that Pakistanis now watch on DVDs are window panes to Pakistan they belong to. Along with these plays; cricket, cultural events and current affairs programs, form an integral part of TV viewing experience of Pakistanis – for whom cricket is culture, culture is identity and identity is current affairs.

What do you think?