Wrong map of Pakistan on John Hopkins website

[jericho]

This is what happens when your own government doesn't push the right map and get offended enough when the wrong one is used. Forget JHU --- I've seen the wrong map used in Pakistan very, very often. And even more scarily, very few people point out the issue.

The Indian Govt had a proper campaign --- helped by their people in IT positions around the world and by their intel --- to push their version of South Asia's map internationally. Our government was asleep.

The wrong map is a problem, but it is just a part of a bigger problem which is lack of branding in Pakistan society. We fail to brand our stuff properly worldwide, making everyone else to step all over us. For example, you go overseas, and you will have a difficult time finding a Pakistani restaurant that does not have an "Indian cuisine" word on their marketing, the reverse is however not true, you will hardly find an Indian restaurant putting the word Pakistan, and rightly so because they promote their food. Just like any other nationality would promote them. I have seen news where Arabs and Isreali would not let each other claim origin over common food between them, I have seen news where Iranian community in some place would protest if someone else lay claim on what they consider their food, I am not aware if any Pakistani community around the globe have done something like this. If we are more aggressive in promoting our brand, others would think twice before they step on us.

 

[R Wing]

The wrong map is a problem, but it is just a part of a bigger problem which is lack of branding in Pakistan society. We fail to brand our stuff properly worldwide, making everyone else to step all over us. For example, you go overseas, and you will have a difficult time finding a Pakistani restaurant that does not have an "Indian cuisine" word on their marketing, the reverse is however not true, you will hardly find an Indian restaurant putting the word Pakistan, and rightly so because they promote their food. Just like any other nationality would promote them. I have seen news where Arabs and Isreali would not let each other claim origin over common food between them, I have seen news where Iranian community in some place would protest if someone else lay claim on what they consider their food, I am not aware if any Pakistani community around the globe have done something like this. If we are more aggressive in promoting our brand, others would think twice before they step on us.

Precisely.

Generally, countries that were colonized up till very recently, and where the language, color, etc., of the colonizers is still considered 'better' than whatever is local, have a tougher time building a strong cultural/national identity. India is a serious exception because it still suffers hugely from the psycho-social baggage/burden of colonization yet still aggressively claims ownership to a lot of stuff.

When I think of countries like Iran, Turkey and Russia --- they all get the majority of their schooling in their own language and their own language is the official/govt language as well, as is essentially all advertising (whether billboards or radio ads.) In Pakistan, people who are clearly not very comfortable with English also feel pressure to speak in it. It makes me cringe.