On the Picket Line in Islamabad

Dear Mr. Omar

Welcome to Chowk and may God bless you for writing this article and bringing this information forward. I would like to thank and appreciate all picketers for answering the call of their good conscience. May God protect you all, and Godspeed. Don`t ever lose heart, because you people are not alone, there are millions around the globe who are also answering the call of their good conscience. There is no dearth of such courageous souls here in the very belly of the beast either.

Thank you.

I would like to express my reservations on boycotting all American Brands as follows:

1. Not all American concerns are pro-war, pro-Israel and anti-Muslim.

2. Popeye and KFC have begun offering Halal packages in the USA and Canada that come in handy for travelers like us.

3. In Pakistan, KFC, Pizza Huts, Tim Hortons, TGIF, McD, Burger King, etc. are franchises. These franchise outlets are owned by Pakistanis and a royalty is paid to the Franchisor. If you boycott these outlets, you penalize Pakistani businessmen who are in fact contributing to improving Pakistan`s economy.

4. If American brands have to be boycotted then at least apply segmentation strategy. For example, boycott those products whose manufacturuers / suppliers are funding Zionists. This will send a message to American concerns that if you fund Israeli budget then you will be penalized in Muslim lands.

5. If you boycott wholesale then you lose American sympathy too against your adversary in the times of need.

``A sufi told a wandering traveler that the road he had taken would not take him to Mecca, as it was going towards Kashgar (China)`` - Sheikh Saadi Shirazi of Iran, advising his pupil on taking the right steps in achieving their life goals.

This is sad but true. What we have to explore is if we really need all these chains when we have local mouth-watering cuisine.

Whenever I am vacationing in Pakistan, I always prefer to go to Nihari, Paye, Karahi and Kabab outlets. Why would a person in his/her right mind overlook the joys of such dishes and opt for Fast Food chains where the service is anyting but fast. And food .... well I will leave that alone.

I distinctly remember when a US educated (& returned) Pakistani entrepreneur opened the gates of his SUBWAY franchise on August 14th, 1998 to the general pulic at Zamzama Boulevard (DHA Phase VI, Karachi), it was utter chaos. All the so called Burgers and others queued up to get a SUB. A que, as long as The Bridge of Siraat, was filled with people ... most of whom had no clue what the whole idea is.

Q: Why were they there?
A: Status symbol.

Another tragedy took place when McDonald`s first outlet premiered in Karachi at the Golden Gate Location (North Nazimabad). Mostly average salaried individuals lined up to buy something that they are not able to afford on a regular basis. Only if someone could tell them that MacDonald`s is not a symbol status in N. America. :-)

Folks wake up and smell the coffee. You may hate the chains for their US affiliation and/or origin. It`s time you think about the impact this will have on the nation as a whole. Most importantly ... do you really like that food? Be honest now.

Last but not the least, while you are deliberating, please excuse SUBWAY. Since Jarret has assured us that many of their subs have 6 grams of fat or less. But that brings us to another question:


Q: Does Jarret know what Nihari is?

I wonder if Jarret knew what Nihari was then would he order a Nihari SUB or NIHARI with maghza (cow brain) and tandoor ki roti if he was visiting Karachi.

So long.


NOTE: Don`t tell Jarret about State Department`s Travel Advisory. Else he may never get to taste Sabri Ki Nihari.

LOL!! The article in itself is not bad. Byt the great UrsTruly who lives in America and funds the deaths of his co-religionists through his tax dollars actually supports such a boycott.

Mr Faridi, who presumably lives in the west, extolls his habit of going to local dhabas on his vacation time spent in Pakistan.

Carry on folks..

Jamil:

welcome and good luck to you...

the colonel whispers in my ears that if you really wish to succeed forget about him...he is dead...boycott the products and services of the Faujis...nationwide...they are the ones who are directly responsible for the predicament...or do more and force them to return to the barracks and under permanent civilian control like in the rest of the civilized world...

rgds

t

#4 by stuka on May 14, 2003 10:17am PT

As a matter of fact all of the mentioned cuisine is also available in fine eateries. But to tell you the truth Stuka Pa Ji, it`s absolute fun to go to `open-air` eateries and break bread beside common folks in one of the many places in Karachi while enjoying the evening breeze. The atmosphere is free of any snobbery and it`s a lot of fun.

Try it sometime. You may like it. May even fall in love with it!


PS: I think your GPS is broke :-) I live in Canada. Y tu?

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Interesting and important article. Please keep us posted.

Faridi: I love eating in Dhabas. I love desi food. But I love it for it`s own sake, not to boycott some velayati food. In fact, I agree with you that if the local dhabas are available, patronize them by all means. Not out of patriotism but because you like the food. Burger Kings and Dhabas should co-exist.

I am in the states waisey. Washington DC.

Faridi, it is lot of fun to go to open air eateries also know as dhabas and chhabRiwalas but only after you have dined in fine Italian, Mexican, French and what not restaurants in the west spending your hard earned dollars and pounds in the west. It is even more fun to ask people who have been hardly out of their city or even mohalla in Baghbanpura to control their taste buds and not get swayed by the flashy Mcdonalds and KFC and not to support the west by buying 99 cent burgers. Sure it is lot of fun...good to know that you are enjoying it.

ahmadzai#1
wellsaid.boycot of mateial things are not going to turn up any thing.what about the mothers who are runing after girls having green cards.after all all other people are living in pakistan.bycotting the resturants,we shall be demangeing our people`s business.in future if all goes well,we shall start trade with india even then every one willrush to buy indian``s sari.
this nation has to do something concreate.

(¯`·._.·[ Time Table For Anti-KFC Protests ]·._.·´¯)


Kindly join us in the noble Islamic cause of protest against American products. Here is the time-table:

9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Hunger Strike
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Lunch Break
2:30 PM to 4:00 PM Hunger Strike

Note: Lumch Boxes with PEPSI will be served during the lunch break.


-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o



(¯`·._.·[ The Secret of Dhaba Food ]·._.·´¯)


Dhaba food is good! It has a taste of its own, Mr. Faridi, and ample research on what makes those Niharis, Siri Payes, Karahi and Kabaabs taste so unique has revealed the shocking secret. Here is the recipe:


1- Make Nihari/Karahi/Siri Paye
2- Add sweat (Musalman Mehnat-Kash ka Paseena Paak Hota Hai)
3- Display on Road
4- Let a few donkey-carts and tongas pass by
5- Let the animals poo on the road
6- Let some cars pass over the shit
7- Let the animal-dung fly into the dish
8- Serve while hot


-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o


(¯`·._.·[ Advice of the Millenium ]·._.·´¯)


Why do you waste a few hundred ruppees each time you go to an open-air restaurant to enjoy the environment and eat Nihari??
Advice: Spend Rs. 800 once, buy your own donkey and eat it fresh every day!

#10 by dullabhatti on May 14, 2003 6:38pm PT

Thank you

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Can anyone explain why any Pakistani would want to visit McDonald, KFC, Burger King in the first place ? The food is pathethic compared to sub-continental delicacies.

I do not think ``Boycots`` are such a good idea.

Economy of the entire world is inter-linked. In Boycots, everyone loses.