Owning to Pakistan’s negative perception in the international arena, we are in dire of projecting the softer or affirmative aspects of our nation. Blacklisted and coupled with the term “terrorism”, Pakistan needs to pacify this impression across the globe, which is marring the development of the country in numerous ways. Although the western media has definitely given hype to certain issues pertaining to our nation, yet Pakistanis themselves have not stayed behind in proving them true. In the present scenario, it is no less than a challenge to win the consent of various countries to gather at a place where their life is at stake. Even the locals cannot guess when and where a bomb blast would take place, how can these foreigners to put their trust in us? But let us consider some of the possibilities as how to hold and organize events that would propel people from various parts of the world to congregate.

Sports Events

Like the practice of numerous countries, Pakistan can organize sports events, inviting participants from across the globe. A fine example is the twenty-twenty cricket series played in India recently. This event had been organized by Indian Cricket League and won tremendous response from cricket teams all around the world. Players and audience from every nook and corner of the world gathered there and cheered their favorite stars. Not only this, this endeavor has helped India to present its varied facets including its culture, traditions and the ever green Bollywood. Pakistan can also work on the similar lines and launch many such sports events including hockey, cricket and squash tournaments. The objective of these will definitely be to bring the world’s attention to the constructive aspects of our country. Such platforms also aid to improve the economic and business prospects for a state. Huge audiences from across the globe get to see the socio-economic conditions and thus come up with new business plans and ideas resulting in joint ventures with the local firms.

International Sufi Conference

Like many other countries who celebrate Sufi day or Sufi conference, Pakistan can commence an event of this nature on a global level. It has indeed become apart of our national affairs recently, but Sufism has a universal appeal; it magnetizes non-Muslims as much as it allures the Muslims. Moreover, Pakistan is an unparallel centre of great Sufis; Hazrat Ali Hajvery Data Gunj Buksh, Bulle Shah, Bahayuddin Zakariya Multani, Baba Farid ud Din Ganj Shakar, Shams Tabrez being some of them. An International Sufi conference or a Sufi day for sure will attract the world’s attention, as many Sufis are read more in the western world than in the Islamic countries. Although surprising but Mevlana Rumi and Hafiz Shirazi are the most widely read Sufi poets in America and England. Rumi was in fact the teacher or murshid of Allama Iqbal, our national poet. Although such conferences are celebrated in many parts of the world, but Pakistan has special significance in this regard, as South Asia and Sub-continent in particular has meticulous value since the traces of most of the great Sufis track back to this region. Such events can help to alleviate the barbed image of Pakistan, in fact, the world ought to know that Pakistan is much more than just a hub of terrorists!

Although holding and organizing events to gather the international world in Pakistan in the present scenario is looks like an impressive idea and it is needed on urgent basis as well, this is no less than climbing a mountain. However, there are people who have done so and so can we. What is required is a strategic approach, clear objects and a profound plan of action. The security of the invitees, the reaction of the local bodies and public are factors which must be kept in consideration before initiating such endeavors.