Amraiz Khan
Lahore
Holding AsAsia conference 2019 in Lahore will portray a soft image of Pakistan at international level, local as well as International speakers of the conference claimed on Saturday.
AdAsia which was held in Pakistan after 30 years gathered more than 150 speakers from around 16 countries. Credit goes to Sarmad Ali who is chairman AdAsia Lahore 2019 and President Pakistan Chapter International Advertising Association who made all arrangements to hold such a mega even in the provincial capital.
It will provide opportunity to promote media industry and minimize the crisis which was being faced by the media industry currently. “I am hopeful that this conference will also help the media industry of Pakistan to create job opportunities for the youngsters”, said Sarmad Ali. He said that International Advertising experts have visited the conference and they have shared their experiences with the participants and it will help to take our media industry towards growth. It was not so easy to come out of the crisis we were passing through but such events provide you the opportunity to grow. To a question that whether this conference will help or not to minimize the unemployment in the field of media industry, he said, “Yes I am hopeful”.
To another question Mr. Ali said that there were two Pakistanis, one is shown by the western media and peoples build their opinion while other is real Pakistan. Till the time you will not visit Pakistan you cannot establish your opinion. After having built their opinion by watching western Media when they peoples visit Pakistan their opinion is entirely changed. They become Ambassador of Pakistan and go back. He said that one of his friend Arola was asked by his government to visit Pakistan but he flatly refused and did not visit after some time he visited Pakistan and after witnessing the realities now a days he is Honorary Counsel for Pakistan in Finland. He further quoted another example of Richard Austin Quest the anchor of CNN and said that he was speaker of the conference. While sharing his experiences with the participants he said that he had a very different stance regarding Pakistan but on his visit and seeing things with his eyes he has changed his perception about Pakistan. Sarmad appreciated the role of Punjab government in holding the conference and said that different approvals and permissions were granted smoothly.
Deputy CEO Zong Niaz Malik said that conference was a long way bringing and bridging a lot of peoples from the field of advertisement and media on the same platform. He said that it will create of image of Pakistan at international level especially for Lahore which is an historic city.
He said, “We are so glad and honored to have multiple speakers who have come on board and provided their insights, comments and speeches with regards the way forward in terms of advertisement and what will be going on in the upcoming years. Mr. Malik was of the view that holding of the conference would definitely leave impact on the employment in media industry. He said that these were small steps forward and when we would put all the things in bigger picture it will all make sense. He said that it is definitely a step forward towards getting peoples on board and marketing Pakistan and the potential itself and hopefully business will come gradually.
Jonathon Chen Director Taipei Association of Advertising Agencies said, “Though I have many Pakistani friends already but after visiting Pakistan my perception about Pakistan has been changed totally”. To be very honestly I had very different perception regarding Pakistan but after my visit I found Pakistani peoples very hospitable and I appreciate the efforts made to hold conference in Pakistan.
