got tourists?
by changing one simple policy,pakistan can create a tourism industry overnight.legalise alcohol.two things happen.one that obviously the government gets its hands on huge amounts of revenue cos it'll be taxing booze.that revenue can be used to build whatever.secondly goraswill flock.he whole makran coast will become like the thai coast.resort upon resot.our pious arab brethren will flock there as well as europeans looking for sun and fun.karachi people can drive down there over the weekends.us lahoris can fly there.but the point is that without legalising alcohol and foreign brands tourism is not going to pick up.there are only so many mountaineers you can attract to the himalayas and even less historical/archeological junkies to moenjedaro.follow the dubai model.khair this suggestion of mine is pretty much pie in the sky cos general zia-ul-haq's legacy is alive and kicking.in a few years though who knows.
posted by Jerry shah at 1:29 PM
11 Comments:
eat, drink and be murree nice.haha.ure right abt iran and turky.thats why mush is a bit slow in challenging the beards.cos those imbeciles have a grip on 'morality' in this country.but slowly but surely things will improve cos of the reasoning u just gave.economic liberalisation=growth=education=political maturity=stability=moderates.but still we wont be a tourist haven if goras dont have bars,clubs and the like here.
4:36 PM
As interesting as your legalization of alcohol idea may seem it’s just not possible in Pakistan. I see your Amsterdam/Dubai inspired model but the cons definitely out weigh the pros (especially internally). Although the government will be able to make tones of money taxing booze, many people who don’t have the access to it right now (and believe me there are many who don’t) or the finances will be tempted if and when it is legalized. For example if someone like me wants to drink I have to go through someone who has to go through someone else, which makes it harder for me, an inconvenience which acts as a deterrent. If I can just go buy a 6 pack of Smirnoff ice from HKB and the middle men are cut out a big fat OUCH! I don’t feel safe knowing my younger siblings can do the same. Catch my drift?!?! Also I think Musharraf is doing the right thing by not directly challenging the mullahs (and it’s not just the mullahs who are against the legalization of alcohol in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan there is a very small minority of us who think playing hard is having black label or J&B on sat night ). Secondly even without the legalization of alcohol resorts on the makran coast will attract tourists. Moreover if you want to attract tourism we should do it in some authentic Pakistani way. So we have to think what do we have to offer? Why would someone come to Pakistan? One idea: trekking in the northern areas has soooo much potential to attract tourists. Then there are the Buddhist religious sites in Gandhara and the Sikh holy sites. On the other hand we have festivals like basant and sports like cricket and polo. All these areas are underdeveloped at the moment and have immense potential for growth and attracting tourism. Whadya say?!?!
10:45 PM
Its not about Islamic morality...it’s about Islam- period. The fact is alcohol is banned in Islam and so it cannot be made available to the public (where the majority is overwhelming Muslim) at large in a legitimate way, and “we all doing it” doesn’t make it okay. At the same time the people who want to drink will find a way to do so and more power to them, but my point is when there are other ways to achieve the same objective (more tourism) why go for the most controversial and possibly destructive option?!? yea tax I agree with but as far as regulations are concerned you and I both know that if underage drinking is so rampant in a place like America it will sure as hell take place in Pakistan...so there goes the age regulation if it is legalized argument...Also as I said it is not just the mullahs who against the legalization of alcohol; the al- huda women would take to the streets, most of our parents would be appalled and they belong to the upper middle class strata…and of course the middle class most of whom don’t drink at all….moreover don’t forget that goras are not starved for alcohol so I don’t see that as a definitive factor…also trekking is hugeeee and if it is organized properly it can attract hundreds of tourists each year (hello!??! K2) . Also we have Sikh and Buddhist holy sites and you know the hundreds of thousand people we can attract through religious sites. These numbers cannot compare to a bunch of foreign couples coming to the makran coast to spend three nights getting drunk and having sex hahaha.
2:00 AM
wow u've spent a lotta time on this good for you...when i have the time to read all that ill def get back to you for now lets agree to disagree whadya say?!?! peace :)
8:34 AM
ha ha ... I know. I just graduated and have wayyy to much time on my hands. but its interesting subject. anyways, it was fun
10:23 AM
wow.intense, interesting debate that ended in a harmonious way.all of us are the future.we will agree and disagree and if we can disagree in an agreeable manner,progress will be ensured.inshallah!
1:38 PM
Muneeba I am truly impressed by your interest and deep knowledge on this subject, but I do want to make a few clarifications.
1. Initial discussion: legalization of booze= more tax revenue and increase in tourism; my point: although there are advantages of legalizing alcohol (and I realize that there are) the disadvantages out weigh the advantages. Therefore if we do have other available options to increase tourism why choose the most controversial and possibly destructive one.
2.Just as a little knowledge of science can make one an atheist and a deep understanding of science strengthens belief in God, I believe a little knowledge of religion makes people think its irrational while deeper understanding makes it clear just how rational religion ( and when I say religion I mean Islam) really is. Therefore bringing religion into the argument does not affect the quality of the debate.
3. The reason I brought religion into the argument is not to show moral superiority or to impose my religious beliefs on other; I brought it up because it applies to this case as we live in a country with an overwhelming Muslim majority. Therefore it is naïve to think religion can be ignored in this debate.
4. If you read the verse on alcohol in the Quran it states that while there are advantages associated with alcohol the disadvantages are greater, and as a result Muslims are asked to abstain from alcohol consumption.
5. When the Quran says there should be no compulsion in religion, it is talking about enforcing Islam on peoples of other religion, not Muslims. For example we cannot force Christians to pray five times a day. It does not apply to the legalization of alcohol argument, as alcohol is clearly banned in Islam.
6. Economics or politics do not and cannot exist in isolation- sociology, religion, culture, politics and economics are all interdependent. Thus what is good for our economy (tax revenues and increase in tourism) may not necessarily be good from other aspects such as religion, cultural norms, politics and sociology- and all these factors have to be taken into consideration.
7. You can only legalize alcohol when popular will wants it (which at the moment seems unlikely). There are more people opposing it than in favor of legalizing alcohol.
8. Lastly I stick by my initial argument not cos I’m a stubborn ass or a religious fanatic but cos I believe there are others methods to achieve the same objective. However your posts have REALLY made me see the other point of view and sure as hell have made me think. So thank you for that! I hope I did the same. This was a lotta fun! Best of luck smooch
3:40 AM
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1:11 AM
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