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We are at the verge of anarchy and Pakistan will experience a bigger revolution than Egypt and Libya, this is one of the statements that are coming from our political leaders who want to take advantage of country’s fragile socio-economic condition.
Telenor Pakistan also seems to have joined the club of revolutionaries. It has blended its commercial targets with social injustice in Pakistan. Its recent campaign Khamoshi Ka Boycott is educating young people to stand for their rights against all odds and injustice that they come across in their daily lives. Company is using the fame and public influence of Shahazad Roy who is proving his capabilities by initiating number of social welfare projects in different parts of Pakistan.
Its a very timely campaign which apparently addresses a social cause, something need of the hour.
The fact is, people, particularly those who come on merit, are frustrated and annoyed due to the biased and irregular practices in our society which deprive them of their basic rights.
Constitution of 1973 also highlights the Freedom of Speech and Equality of Citizen in detail which is also the bottom line of Telenor’s recent activity but one thing that this massive advertising campaign does not talk about is its eventual goal. Telenor’s TVCs and its website do convince young people to raise voice for their rights but company has not yet told that where these angry young people will go to after they start clashing with the system.
Those who will be impressed by this campaign will try to shout and raise their voice against the system. On individual level they will face the power of state or institutions against which anyone stands. On the other hand, if Telenor receives a massive public response, it may turn out to be a state of anarchy as it is happening in Arab countries. Has Telenor Pakistan planned it that way? If they really are into this, then they must provide a platform to lead this cause. Otherwise, any possible unrest could provide solid ground to a certain local or foreign elements or group which could worsen the entire situation. Is this sudden campaign a part of any such plan, Telenor needs to clarify?
It is not even clear that how a foreign commercial organization will afford to become a part of any revolution in Pakistan as being a cellular company they are into the business of services and their social responsibility efforts have been praiseworthy in the past. But this time it is different because it is not an education related project nor it is a home building campaign for the victims of flood or earth quake. It addresses a very sensitive issue that can affect the people all across the country, their present as well as their future.
In Pakistan, we already have number of social organizations working on the agenda to educate and help people and in doing so they go far beyond the expectations and ultimately face the consequences. We have seen media and judiciary fighting for their rights and for that they took all the bold steps and faced the wrath of state in return. Despite of all the hardships, the process is still going on. Can people at Telenor lead this force of youth for their rights in this way?
From Telenor’s point of view, ultimate purpose behind Khamoshi Ka Boycott is to sell more SIMs and minutes. But how useful it would be morally to charge up already depressed young people through highlighting pinching issues, motivate them, bring them on board for the sack of earning revenue and then leave them in the middle — only way of catharsis– keep screaming. If this is the idea then company should forget this social cause as public is already screaming.
Secondly, djuice is famous for offering lots of SMSes and minutes to its subscribers which keep them awake during nights. This issue has been discussed twice in the provincial assemblies on the grounds that such packages from cellular companies are putting a negative impact on our youth. Telenor hasn’t changed its packages of Djuice under Khamoshi Ka Boycott. When young people will remain busy with non productive things, how can they become productive by just sending few paid SMSes to Telenor.
Thirdly, Telenor says, Djuice is the world’s largest youth mobile brand and is spread across six countries. There are civil rights issues in India, Ukraine, Hungary and Bangladesh as well, to my knowledge, Telenor hasn’t launched such a campaign in those countries, why it only sees Pakistan a perfect place for this revolutionary activity.
It must not be forgotten that situation in Egypt, Libya and other Arab countries got worst after a massive exchange of revolutionary SMSes and on-line communication. What If God forbids it happens in Pakistan, will people at Telenor become a part of it?
If Telenor means to serve the cause and achieve the goal then it should share the entire road map with public whom it is taking the risk for. If it is for the sack of expanding its customer base only then Telenor must not exploit the already sensitive situation and play with our emotions or else it may turn out to be a horrible plan for them.
[...] is not the first time we are pointing out Telenor’s political involvement, in fact, ApnaTime did a story six months back raising questions over it’s Khamoshi ka Boycott [...]
[...] is not the first time we are pointing out Telenor’s political involvement, in fact, ApnaTime did a story six months back raising questions over it’s Khamoshi ka Boycott [...]
AOA, I am Farhan Siddiqui
Address :
Town : Orangi Town
Union Council No. : UC-5
Area : Sector 11-1/2
Block : J
In Our Area Water Supply is a Big Problem Specially in Our Two to Three Street Lane No. 26-28 In our Area’s Don’t Know MNA or MPA Manzar Imaran is also Somethig in Water Board Living in Lane No. 23 some time in his street also Water Supply problem but his contract with Water Tanker Mafia and Get Free Water tanker whenever we said to him about water supply problem than he is saying as you are seeing this problem also in my Lane No. 23 in Sector no. 14 made a Water Hidrant and sell water to water tanker Mafia and get Monthly commision per.
These Problems Reponsibility is Mr. Manzr Imam and Last Town Nazim Abdul Haq.
We Are Puchasing WAter by Water Tanker Supplier from Rs. 500-800.
Iam Discussing this problem in this forum may be you people give me any soltion.
Hope For Good.
***************************** KHAMOSHI KA BOYCOTT ************************************
I appreciate the telenor effort, All youth of Pakistan should b participate in it
sirf appreciation k comments krna hi is ka hal nahi, zarurat he k iska solution kesy hoga, logn men jzba tab tak rhe ga jab tak ye add chalte rehn ge, bad men hum sb bhool jain ge, aur issi system ka hissa ban jain ge,
zarurat he to sytem ko correct krny ki
Please think on it,
request to telenor team also
RABIA
The author has one wild imagination. Late night packages are just an “offer”, just like “food”. You pay to get it. If someone does not pay attention to their studies and talks on the phone all night long, should we blame the phone?
Furthermore, djuice tries to make point to curtail cheating in different zones. It seems that the favorite pastime for some people is to make hue and cry out of nothing.
I agree to most of it BUT selling SIMs for this is quite judgmental, Mudassir having such an in depth knowledge must know that telecom market is nearly saturated and we have reached a limit where progress is getting slow hence we see the prices go down and MNP campaigns getting strength. How come you concluded the motive without actually waiting for them to respond, they changed those TV ads letting everyone that they are not stupid but actually listen to your voice quite well.
I am pretty sure they’ll read the first half of this and will come up with a strategy to clarify the motive provided we wait for them to respond without being bias.
My major concern is the timing of the campaign and the level of ambiguity at this point of time. You see what is happening in various parts of Pakistan. What happened in Karachi and Faisalabad today due to power and fuel shortages can trigger unrest and such a campaign can multiply the triggering effect…so i believe it should be handled very carefully with complete clarity.
East India Company of Pakistan!
Jub raat bhar naujawan jaagain gay tu subha khaak kaam karain gay. Mobilink ka naya ad dekha ha, sala baat kartay kartay chehray per mobile ka nishaan chord jaata ha.
Kisi ko yaad ha woh HARIS JIGAR??? aisa lagta tha kay nasha kar kay soya hua ha. Jub tum un ki itni barbaadi karo gay to un kee KHAMOSHI kaisay khatam karo gay. woh kisi kaam kay rahain gay to phir na….BOOTI TO CHALAY GI…
Telecom companies don’t compel anyone to talk all bight. They only “offer” night packages, not “impose”. It’s personal matter of someone who talks all night and wastes his/her own time. Some people are awake all night and watch movies or do other activities like roaming around with friends. So will you say then its fault of movie makers or park owners that youth is wasting time? Please broaden your imagination and start thinking out of box. Secondly companies are indeed for making money and it doesn’t mean that they can’t do anything good even if they do it for money, it is still good.
Bhai Mujahid, when you want to sell something in good numbers, you highlight those features which are of importance. I am not specifically saying that only Telenor is pushing people for night packages, other are doing too. but my point is, you offer everything free during nights because you know is a price conscious market and our youth who is already not into studies will go for it. though it doesnot bring high revenues to the company but at least active SIM status prevails and company get the benefit out of it.
Cigarette companies don’t advertise, but still they are sold in high numbers because the product has all the devilish attraction despite of its negatives.
Its human nature you never need a push to do something negative, it happens without that, so why to highlight the negatives in such a way that could become a menace for society.
Dear Yes! I agree with you that, mobile network companies announced night packages, which mislead the youth, but did not take name of any network
Regds
RABIA
And that anti-telenor agenda continues.
Well one thing clearly establishes from your facts that Telenor has not portrayed any sign of politics in their commercial, then why to talk all this.
Wonder whats your agenda behind this
?
There is no agenda Darling…it is just that you can’t exploit people and their sensitive issues for sales numbers. If you have to dedicate yourself for this social cause, then, come and lead up till end. Of course, Telenor is not a social organization, its a multinational company.
I believe Mudassar has made an excellent comment. Everyone is here to sell but selling on negativity, explioitation is wrong. Lets be constructive, supportive and lets not put Pakistan in a bad light. If they really wanted to talk about ‘real’ issues then why play safe and scratch the surface. how about actual harassament? adulteration? drugs? cant have a multinational talking about that now can we.
I remember two months ago samsung pakistan started a school in a very remote and back ward area of kasur district. the school is called Samsung school and it will be run by them. a model for them and everyone else as well. if done by other companies as well without thinking about copying other, it will bring a revolution here at least something that our govt is not doing. someone is going after danish school and others are only busy with their own skin saving.
i agree with Sherry, Kal Kay Lyay Aaj Badlo’ by Mobilink and ‘Karo Mumkin’ by Telenor are good initiatives. we need positivity as everyone around the world sees are evil face on media almost daily.
Dear I like your comment of giving idea to provide education by these MNC’s,
our Gov should impose this on all leading MNC’s that must open a school in each province to literate people, at pay thier social responsibilty.
Well said!!
Thank you Asif. I would like to mention here the efforts of Shahzad Roy in Karachi where he just took a destroyed govt. school under his supervision, of course, there are other with him, and he just revamped it.
People say that the school is so demanding that parents like to get their children admitted in that school just because of its standard.
I believe that this is more of an image salvation campaign. Telenor came under a lot of cross fire after a previous campaign sparked unprecedented public reaction especially from the female segment of society for the negative stereotyping and derogatory portrayal of women (I am still pissed about that one!).
Hence, the u-turn in the youth related communication perhaps? A slow, more gradual transition would have gelled in well with the brand identity which suddenly looks all confused (refer to previous Djuice ads)
On a personal note, I think positive change can be driven without casting such an air of negativity which is unpleasant and so abstract. Case in point are of course ‘Kal Kay Lyay Aaj Badlo’ by Mobilink and ‘Karo Mumkin’ by Telenor itself.
Over all its good analytical topic and one the golden pieces of Mr. Mudassir , being an excellent writer / analyst and editor of Telecom industry . he is always in fore front in exploring things.
As for as Telenor is concerned.. I have below reservations:
1. Being a Cellular company, they are only concerned to sell their sims and moral grounds are always ignored
2. This is also the duty of PEMRA and PTA to audit all media campaign before it goes on air. We have already seen in past one of the Telenor’s ad was banned by PTA
Revolution is not only means to change the faces, and we cannot afford any kind of up rising in Pakistan. Therefore, all the Commercial as well as Political parties must think before giving any media statement.
I think there are two aspects of this Advertisement. One is the marketing or their product and second is a public awareness comparing. I did not feel any political influence in this advertisement. It’s just a marketing tactic.
Yes but when marketing tactic is mixed with the something very ultra violet for the commercial interest then morally and socially it becomes wrong. Private companies don’t have to do it on their own. Telenor would be among those foreign companies who will run away in case of a revolution in Pakistan….there are other social things to do in Pakistan. Everyone is talking about revolution..so they should be????
i like the idea behind telenor effort but i’m kinda confused what they want from us