you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] well when I was invited by the
well when I was invited by the
well when I was invited by the organizers of TEDx Islamabad
organizers of TEDx Islamabad
organizers of TEDx Islamabad I was predictably planning to speak
I was predictably planning to speak
I was predictably planning to speak about technology especially technology
about technology especially technology
about technology especially technology in Pakistan but then a speech was made
in Pakistan but then a speech was made
in Pakistan but then a speech was made about two days ago which forced me to
about two days ago which forced me to
about two days ago which forced me to rethink my talk and I’m here today to
rethink my talk and I’m here today to
rethink my talk and I’m here today to set the record straight about Pakistan
set the record straight about Pakistan
set the record straight about Pakistan Pakistan which is from time to time
Pakistan which is from time to time
Pakistan which is from time to time called the most dangerous country in the
called the most dangerous country in the
called the most dangerous country in the world and the speech that was made two
world and the speech that was made two
world and the speech that was made two days ago reinforced this view and I’m
days ago reinforced this view and I’m
days ago reinforced this view and I’m here to convince you that we are better
here to convince you that we are better
here to convince you that we are better than that but the facts some of the
than that but the facts some of the
than that but the facts some of the facts are not on my side some of the
facts are not on my side some of the
facts are not on my side some of the facts that you’ve heard from time to
facts that you’ve heard from time to
facts that you’ve heard from time to time in international media typically
time in international media typically
time in international media typically feed into the narrative that was
feed into the narrative that was
feed into the narrative that was eventually crystallized in a speech a
eventually crystallized in a speech a
eventually crystallized in a speech a couple of days ago
couple of days ago
couple of days ago Pakistan is ranked 147 in the human
Pakistan is ranked 147 in the human
Pakistan is ranked 147 in the human development index that’s substantially
development index that’s substantially
development index that’s substantially behind Sri Lanka India and Bangladesh
behind Sri Lanka India and Bangladesh
behind Sri Lanka India and Bangladesh and even one point behind Kenya party
and even one point behind Kenya party
and even one point behind Kenya party stands passport is the third least
stands passport is the third least
stands passport is the third least desired passport to travel
desired passport to travel
desired passport to travel internationally in fact when I was named
internationally in fact when I was named
internationally in fact when I was named as more than 35 young innovators in the
as more than 35 young innovators in the
as more than 35 young innovators in the world by a mighty tech review in 2011 I
world by a mighty tech review in 2011 I
world by a mighty tech review in 2011 I couldn’t go attend the ceremony because
couldn’t go attend the ceremony because
couldn’t go attend the ceremony because I wasn’t granted visa on time I had this
I wasn’t granted visa on time I had this
I wasn’t granted visa on time I had this passport but that’s not what I am here
passport but that’s not what I am here
passport but that’s not what I am here to tell you today I’m here to convince
to tell you today I’m here to convince
to tell you today I’m here to convince you that Pakistan’s not the most
you that Pakistan’s not the most
you that Pakistan’s not the most dangerous country in the world we are a
dangerous country in the world we are a
dangerous country in the world we are a big beautiful tolerant progressive
big beautiful tolerant progressive
big beautiful tolerant progressive brilliant nation and here is my case
brilliant nation and here is my case
brilliant nation and here is my case Pakistan is the sixth most populous
Pakistan is the sixth most populous
Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world
country in the world
country in the world home to 200 million people that’s
home to 200 million people that’s
home to 200 million people that’s equivalent to two thirds of the Europe’s
equivalent to two thirds of the Europe’s
equivalent to two thirds of the Europe’s population two-thirds of the entire
population two-thirds of the entire
population two-thirds of the entire European population the
European population the
European population the Speight this very large population in
Speight this very large population in
Speight this very large population in Pakistan we always welcome our friends
Pakistan we always welcome our friends
Pakistan we always welcome our friends who may want to make Pakistan their home
who may want to make Pakistan their home
who may want to make Pakistan their home in their hour of need
in their hour of need
in their hour of need Pakistan is also home to one of the
Pakistan is also home to one of the
Pakistan is also home to one of the largest international refugee
largest international refugee
largest international refugee communities we’ve never tried to keep
communities we’ve never tried to keep
communities we’ve never tried to keep them out by building a wall and they’ve
them out by building a wall and they’ve
them out by building a wall and they’ve lived here for 40 years
lived here for 40 years
lived here for 40 years maybe a lesson or two to learn for some
maybe a lesson or two to learn for some
maybe a lesson or two to learn for some of our friends Pakistanis are a very
of our friends Pakistanis are a very
of our friends Pakistanis are a very generous nation according to recent
generous nation according to recent
generous nation according to recent study 98% of the households in Pakistan
study 98% of the households in Pakistan
study 98% of the households in Pakistan gives charity which would make us on the
gives charity which would make us on the
gives charity which would make us on the most charitable countries in the world
most charitable countries in the world
most charitable countries in the world and our charity extends beyond our
and our charity extends beyond our
and our charity extends beyond our borders Pakistan is the 16th largest
borders Pakistan is the 16th largest
borders Pakistan is the 16th largest contributor to the World Food Program
contributor to the World Food Program
contributor to the World Food Program and no one symbolises this charity this
and no one symbolises this charity this
and no one symbolises this charity this generosity more than up to Satara teen
generosity more than up to Satara teen
generosity more than up to Satara teen who single-handedly than the largest
who single-handedly than the largest
who single-handedly than the largest charitable ambulance network in the
charitable ambulance network in the
charitable ambulance network in the world my friends our generosity is not a
world my friends our generosity is not a
world my friends our generosity is not a weakness Pakistan has the sixth largest
weakness Pakistan has the sixth largest
weakness Pakistan has the sixth largest active military in the world the seven
active military in the world the seven
active military in the world the seven million strong Pakistan military is
million strong Pakistan military is
million strong Pakistan military is bigger in size than the entire
bigger in size than the entire
bigger in size than the entire population of Norway and we put this
population of Norway and we put this
population of Norway and we put this military might to good use Pakistan Army
military might to good use Pakistan Army
military might to good use Pakistan Army is the third largest contributor to the
is the third largest contributor to the
is the third largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping missions anywhere in the
UN peacekeeping missions anywhere in the
UN peacekeeping missions anywhere in the world and we’ve paid a huge price for
world and we’ve paid a huge price for
world and we’ve paid a huge price for this piece here in Pakistan 80,000
this piece here in Pakistan 80,000
this piece here in Pakistan 80,000 Pakistanis have died in this war on
Pakistanis have died in this war on
Pakistanis have died in this war on terror and it has cost us one hundred
terror and it has cost us one hundred
terror and it has cost us one hundred and twenty three billion dollars that’s
and twenty three billion dollars that’s
and twenty three billion dollars that’s equivalent to 40% or entire GDP still if
equivalent to 40% or entire GDP still if
equivalent to 40% or entire GDP still if you watched international media you can
you watched international media you can
you watched international media you can be forgiven to think that
be forgiven to think that
be forgiven to think that Pakistanis are the most uncouth most
Pakistanis are the most uncouth most
Pakistanis are the most uncouth most uncivilized nation in the world except
uncivilized nation in the world except
uncivilized nation in the world except that we come from one of the oldest
that we come from one of the oldest
that we come from one of the oldest civilizations on earth the Indus Valley
civilizations on earth the Indus Valley
civilizations on earth the Indus Valley Civilization that’s 3,300 years before
Civilization that’s 3,300 years before
Civilization that’s 3,300 years before Christ that’s around the same time that
Christ that’s around the same time that
Christ that’s around the same time that the Egyptians pyramids were built and
the Egyptians pyramids were built and
the Egyptians pyramids were built and 5,000 years before America was
5,000 years before America was
5,000 years before America was discovered
discovered
discovered speaking of America I look forward to a
speaking of America I look forward to a
speaking of America I look forward to a time when Americans elect a female head
time when Americans elect a female head
time when Americans elect a female head of state we elected a female Prime
of state we elected a female Prime
of state we elected a female Prime Minister 30 years ago not only that
Minister 30 years ago not only that
Minister 30 years ago not only that Pakistan is the first Muslim country to
Pakistan is the first Muslim country to
Pakistan is the first Muslim country to have three female generals in the
have three female generals in the
have three female generals in the Pakistan Army while most of the world
Pakistan Army while most of the world
Pakistan Army while most of the world struggles for equal representation of
struggles for equal representation of
struggles for equal representation of females
females
females you’ll be surprised to know there are
you’ll be surprised to know there are
you’ll be surprised to know there are 50% equal representation of females in
50% equal representation of females in
50% equal representation of females in Pakistan would be a disservice to the
Pakistan would be a disservice to the
Pakistan would be a disservice to the brilliant Pakistani female 70% of the
brilliant Pakistani female 70% of the
brilliant Pakistani female 70% of the students and Pakistan’s medical colleges
students and Pakistan’s medical colleges
students and Pakistan’s medical colleges are females compared to only 48% in us
are females compared to only 48% in us
are females compared to only 48% in us Pakistanis are a diverse nation we speak
Pakistanis are a diverse nation we speak
Pakistanis are a diverse nation we speak 75 different languages by 20 different
75 different languages by 20 different
75 different languages by 20 different ethnic communities in this country you’d
ethnic communities in this country you’d
ethnic communities in this country you’d be surprised to know that one of those
be surprised to know that one of those
be surprised to know that one of those languages happens to be English in fact
languages happens to be English in fact
languages happens to be English in fact Pakistan is the third largest
Pakistan is the third largest
Pakistan is the third largest english-speaking nation in the world
english-speaking nation in the world
english-speaking nation in the world which basically means that they’re more
which basically means that they’re more
which basically means that they’re more Pakistanis able to speak English in
Pakistanis able to speak English in
Pakistanis able to speak English in Pakistan than all the English men living
Pakistan than all the English men living
Pakistan than all the English men living in the Great Britain sixty-three percent
in the Great Britain sixty-three percent
in the Great Britain sixty-three percent of Pakistan’s population is below the
of Pakistan’s population is below the
of Pakistan’s population is below the age of 25 which among other things forms
age of 25 which among other things forms
age of 25 which among other things forms the single largest cohort of Fulbright
the single largest cohort of Fulbright
the single largest cohort of Fulbright Scholars anywhere in the world and the
Scholars anywhere in the world and the
Scholars anywhere in the world and the second largest cohort of UK evening
second largest cohort of UK evening
second largest cohort of UK evening scholars these young
scholars these young
scholars these young right people also love technology
right people also love technology
right people also love technology Pakistan is the ninth largest market for
Pakistan is the ninth largest market for
Pakistan is the ninth largest market for cell phones in the world and Pakistan is
cell phones in the world and Pakistan is
cell phones in the world and Pakistan is just last year sent 400 billion SMS we
just last year sent 400 billion SMS we
just last year sent 400 billion SMS we also one of the fastest growing internet
also one of the fastest growing internet
also one of the fastest growing internet growth rates in the region
growth rates in the region
growth rates in the region no wonder the CEO of eBay called
no wonder the CEO of eBay called
no wonder the CEO of eBay called Pakistan the hottest market for
Pakistan the hottest market for
Pakistan the hottest market for e-commerce in fact the number of
e-commerce in fact the number of
e-commerce in fact the number of Internet users in Pakistan exceeds the
Internet users in Pakistan exceeds the
Internet users in Pakistan exceeds the entire population of Canada out of those
entire population of Canada out of those
entire population of Canada out of those 37 million Internet users 32 million are
37 million Internet users 32 million are
37 million Internet users 32 million are on social media just like my friend
on social media just like my friend
on social media just like my friend which means that there are more
which means that there are more
which means that there are more Pakistanis on Facebook and Twitter than
Pakistanis on Facebook and Twitter than
Pakistanis on Facebook and Twitter than the entire population of Australia and
the entire population of Australia and
the entire population of Australia and New Zealand combined Pakistanis are the
New Zealand combined Pakistanis are the
New Zealand combined Pakistanis are the third largest contributors to the
third largest contributors to the
third largest contributors to the Internet freelancing economy which means
Internet freelancing economy which means
Internet freelancing economy which means that close to 150,000 freelancers young
that close to 150,000 freelancers young
that close to 150,000 freelancers young people in Pakistan use their education
people in Pakistan use their education
people in Pakistan use their education and skill online to make close to a
and skill online to make close to a
and skill online to make close to a billion dollars for this country which
billion dollars for this country which
billion dollars for this country which means that we ranked third in the world
means that we ranked third in the world
means that we ranked third in the world right behind us in Ukraine and one place
right behind us in Ukraine and one place
right behind us in Ukraine and one place ahead of India which is otherwise seven
ahead of India which is otherwise seven
ahead of India which is otherwise seven times the size of our population
times the size of our population
times the size of our population Pakistani entrepreneurs are setting the
Pakistani entrepreneurs are setting the
Pakistani entrepreneurs are setting the world ablaze with their innovation a lot
world ablaze with their innovation a lot
world ablaze with their innovation a lot of people say that Pakistan startup
of people say that Pakistan startup
of people say that Pakistan startup ecosystem is all fluff when will we see
ecosystem is all fluff when will we see
ecosystem is all fluff when will we see the first billion dollar startup but a
the first billion dollar startup but a
the first billion dollar startup but a Pakistan well my friend I’m happy to
Pakistan well my friend I’m happy to
Pakistan well my friend I’m happy to report that that has already happened
report that that has already happened
report that that has already happened six times these six billion dollar
six times these six billion dollar
six times these six billion dollar companies were not only found it by
companies were not only found it by
companies were not only found it by Pakistanis but most of their technology
Pakistanis but most of their technology
Pakistanis but most of their technology was also built by Pakistani and genius
was also built by Pakistani and genius
was also built by Pakistani and genius and Pakistani entrepreneurs and
and Pakistani entrepreneurs and
and Pakistani entrepreneurs and Pakistani engineers are not the only
Pakistani engineers are not the only
Pakistani engineers are not the only people we have proud of our sportsmen
people we have proud of our sportsmen
people we have proud of our sportsmen are also fantastic most of you are
are also fantastic most of you are
are also fantastic most of you are probably too young to remember the great
probably too young to remember the great
probably too young to remember the great squash player Johnny Han but just to jog
squash player Johnny Han but just to jog
squash player Johnny Han but just to jog your memory Jangi Han
your memory Jangi Han
your memory Jangi Han on 555 international squash matches
on 555 international squash matches
on 555 international squash matches consecutively that’s four times the
consecutively that’s four times the
consecutively that’s four times the consecutive bins of Nadal and Federer
consecutive bins of Nadal and Federer
consecutive bins of Nadal and Federer combined you may not have heard of
combined you may not have heard of
combined you may not have heard of Pakistan soccer team but Pakistan
Pakistan soccer team but Pakistan
Pakistan soccer team but Pakistan produces 40% of the world’s soccer balls
produces 40% of the world’s soccer balls
produces 40% of the world’s soccer balls while you might imagine that Beckham and
while you might imagine that Beckham and
while you might imagine that Beckham and Ronaldo are someone magically able to
Ronaldo are someone magically able to
Ronaldo are someone magically able to swing their ball when their ball with
swing their ball when their ball with
swing their ball when their ball with their free kicks science tells us that
their free kicks science tells us that
their free kicks science tells us that these balls will not swing in air unless
these balls will not swing in air unless
these balls will not swing in air unless they were masterfully hand-stitched by
they were masterfully hand-stitched by
they were masterfully hand-stitched by the artisans of Sialkot in Pakistan and
the artisans of Sialkot in Pakistan and
the artisans of Sialkot in Pakistan and footballs is not the only thing that we
footballs is not the only thing that we
footballs is not the only thing that we export the world’s largest trade route
export the world’s largest trade route
export the world’s largest trade route will not be complete without Pakistan
will not be complete without Pakistan
will not be complete without Pakistan Pakistan is the linchpin to what is
Pakistan is the linchpin to what is
Pakistan is the linchpin to what is popularly known as one belt one road or
popularly known as one belt one road or
popularly known as one belt one road or the park China economic corridor CPAC or
the park China economic corridor CPAC or
the park China economic corridor CPAC or the over you are will connect 70
the over you are will connect 70
the over you are will connect 70 countries and will result in an end
countries and will result in an end
countries and will result in an end world trade volume of 2.5 trillion
world trade volume of 2.5 trillion
world trade volume of 2.5 trillion dollars and it will be incomplete
dollars and it will be incomplete
dollars and it will be incomplete without us with Kawada
without us with Kawada
without us with Kawada on one side which is the world’s largest
on one side which is the world’s largest
on one side which is the world’s largest deep-sea port and Silk Route on the
deep-sea port and Silk Route on the
deep-sea port and Silk Route on the other side which is the highest
other side which is the highest
other side which is the highest international paved highway at 15,000
international paved highway at 15,000
international paved highway at 15,000 feet altitude before I end I want to
feet altitude before I end I want to
feet altitude before I end I want to remind you of two inspiring Pakistanis
remind you of two inspiring Pakistanis
remind you of two inspiring Pakistanis both Nobel laureates of the Salam who
both Nobel laureates of the Salam who
both Nobel laureates of the Salam who was a great contributor to what is
was a great contributor to what is
was a great contributor to what is called the grand unified field theory
called the grand unified field theory
called the grand unified field theory which helped us understand the very
which helped us understand the very
which helped us understand the very forces that run this universe and Malala
forces that run this universe and Malala
forces that run this universe and Malala yousufzai the world’s youngest Nobel
yousufzai the world’s youngest Nobel
yousufzai the world’s youngest Nobel laureate this 17 year old young girl has
laureate this 17 year old young girl has
laureate this 17 year old young girl has similarly become the global symbol
similarly become the global symbol
similarly become the global symbol porta zillions female empowerment and
porta zillions female empowerment and
porta zillions female empowerment and education and has inspired millions in
education and has inspired millions in
education and has inspired millions in Pakistan and abroad about what Pakistan
Pakistan and abroad about what Pakistan
Pakistan and abroad about what Pakistan truly represents optimism hope and
truly represents optimism hope and
truly represents optimism hope and progress so no sir
progress so no sir
progress so no sir Pakistan is not the most dangerous
Pakistan is not the most dangerous
Pakistan is not the most dangerous country in the world Pakistanis are the
country in the world Pakistanis are the
country in the world Pakistanis are the bravest nation in the world I rest my
bravest nation in the world I rest my
bravest nation in the world I rest my case
”
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