Last month, the Punjab Assembly resolved to ban all late-night call packages offered by mobile telecommunications companies in the province. During vigorous assembly debates, it was concluded that the ability to make cheap, late-night phone calls was having a negative impact on this country’s bright young things. Forget terrorism, the energy crisis, a weakened government, and water shortages – apparently boys and girls texting and calling each other past their bed time has become a matter of national concern.
Hence the assembly resolution demanding that mobile companies stop promoting “cheap rate, late night packages that alter societal tendencies.” Luckily for us nocturnal phone addicts, the powers that be haven’t yet discovered the prevalence of instant messenger or the internet.
I hate to be the harbinger of bad news, but cheap mobile packages don’t corrupt the youth, society corrupts the youth. After all, the previous generation grew up without mobile phones, the internet, cable television, and Gossip Girl, and they’ve hardly turned out to be bastions of virtue.
The youth’s desire for healthy communicative relationships won’t evaporate because placing a call gets a few bucks more expensive. Youngsters invest in relationships the same way our army invests in defence: frequently, expensively, and with no regard for better judgement.
This measure is the latest in long-standing social and political movement to micromanage the morality of young Pakistanis. Society’s pandering and preaching has long complicated any healthy degree of interaction between the sexes. Most parents (of girls, in particular) are heavily in favour of social segregation. As a result, there are already enough impediments to gender-mixing without the government getting a piece of the action as well.
To a large extent, family impediments are impenetrable – and incomprehensible. Take the following examples:
The Dad Double Standard: It’s tough for a guy to get to know a girl in a healthy manner, and fathers of young girls prefer to keep it that way. As far as Dads are concerned, the only boys their daughters ought to speak with are ones that don’t exist. Think of it as the ‘Beti, get yourself an imaginary friend’ syndrome if you will.
Ironically, the rules don’t apply vice versa. If a father sees his virile son ‘hanging out’ with girls, it’s taken as a sign of how masculine his son is and seen as time to hand out cigars and buy the boy his first Kalashnikov.
Mom Protection Agency: Moms are terrific, but let no one be fooled: these women are hellbent on protecting their daughters’ ‘piety,’ even if it means hiring their a personalised Blackwater security detail to follow their girls around. Instructions are simple, ‘If you see a larka talk to her, shoot him’.
On the flip side, if a mother sees her sons associating with members of the opposite sex, she immediately assumes that the girl is trying to ‘trap’ him and orders in another private mercenary. What a world we live in.
Above and beyond the Dad Double Standard and Mom Protection Agency, youngsters who want to get to know each other a bit better will now have to contend with the Punjab Assembly.
On this point, I can fume, I can cry, or I can ridicule. I’ve decided to go with ridicule.
So let’s help our virtuous, morally sound, and socially conscious government out. What other inane acts of grandstanding can they indulge in to prevent the altering of societal tendencies among today’s youth?
They can start with the establishment of a new ministry for Aunties United in Napalming & Tormenting the Youth. The AUNTY Ministry will be responsible for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice amongst the youth. They will be committed to nation-building and progress by minimising any interaction between boys and girls, and they will promote virtue by…well, that’s in next year’s budget.
Here are some initiatives on the agenda of the AUNTY Ministry:
1. Shopping Malls Law: Women will only be allowed to visit shopping areas for certain hours of the day. The AUNTY Ministry can liberally whip (yes, they will be issued Made in China whips) the predominantly male shop owners at will … how dare they look at their customers during a good price haggling session. Men are recommended to launch a Pakistani version of E-Bay.
2. Face-to-Face Interactions Initiative: The solution is simple: don’t let women leave their homes – ever. Female parliamentarians can install webcams in the provincial and national assemblies and vote via G-chat. In fact, the AUNTY ministry will combine this initiative with their recommendation for a massive expansion of online colleges and classes. How dare young boys be in a situation where they might even smell a girl!?! The exposure may even drive youngsters into a frenzy, prompting them to place late-night calls without the benefits of a package discount.
3. Gaming Zones Restrictions: Currently, video game centres are man havens – girls just don’t play video games. However, in anticipation of the mehndi version of Dance Dance Revolution and Rock Band, the AUNTY Ministry recommends a ban on gaming for all women (this will apply in the early morning and afternoon as well as late at night). Oddly enough, this will be the one proclamation that neither sex will be too bothered with.
5. Ladies lunch laws: Close down all ‘family’ sections of restaurants and install video cameras that relay the footage of mixed-gender meals on the web, thereby allowing parents and the AUNTY ministry to track scandalous couples and punish them by lamenting how they have shamed the last 29 generations. I always enjoy a good show with my dinner.
The Big Idea: Today’s ‘youth’ don’t need paternalistic protectionist polices, though in our heart of hearts, we are honoured that our elected officials care – it’s so flattering, really. We’d greatly appreciate it, however, if they could focus their energies on prevalent issues such as load shedding, unemployment, and food prices. Ultimately, politicians are elected to govern, not to preach or parent, particularly when their own track record is so dicey. Pity the youth don’t vote … maybe we should?
Murtaza Ali Jafri is a Karachi-based banking professional. He believes in free markets and freedom, and wishes men could get more of the latter. Read his blog at www.Alphaza.blogspot.com.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Disturbing to hear such laws that will restrict communication.
I have lived in the UK but frankly I have not come across any “night packages” per se. Don’t know about the US but i doubt they exist. The dynamics of western societies and Pakistani society are widely disparate and I do agree that such limited telephonic contact in the thick of the night does lead on to frustration. Being sexually frustrated is endemic with youth but just talking on the phone to vent off barely benefits it merely adds on to the frustration. So either let the youth go all the way freely as happens in the west or control the factors which lead the youth on to greater problems.
Admittedly the older generation is not a bastion of morality however the level of sexual perversion that is witnessed nowadays among youth is much higher than what was witnessed before. Like I said if anyone knows of these so called “late night packages” in the western world kindly share your thoughts for as far as I can tell, there are none!!
Here in America almost every cell phone company offering unlimited calls and text 24/7. I am paying $40 for unlimited calls, Text and internet 24/7.
Well in Canada all cellphone local calls are free after 6pm till 6 or 7 am
And our text messages are usually free if we pay a fixed amount of $5 or $10 amount we get thousand or something text messages free all day anytime.
First off, I think trying to pass legislation such as this is purely a way to gain votes and distract the public. There are certainly more pressing issues.
Secondly, I don’t understand the individuals who agree to such legislation. Save the youth, sure. But that’s a parent’s responsibility. If you can’t control your kid, you expect the government to step in and do it for you?
And what about all the adults who use these late night packages?
Banning them is a ridiculous idea.
Late night call ban is only diverting the attention of the public. Frustration might cause the youth to take some inappropriate steps in order to bridge the gap between them and their so-called loved ones.Well-written article.
I live in Canada and telecommunication is very expensive here. Why it is so cheap in Pakistan?
Looking from the outside in, (being a non resident Pakistani), I think this article is generating more misconception among the people that are abroad and reading this. I have read many posts from foreigners from India, US, etc. who have read this article and are looking at it as if this is how the whole of Pakistan is. They already have a negative perception about Pakistan and one can not easily distinguish the satire in this article.
For example the line about dad’s giving cigars and AK-47 to their sons. That is suppose to be taken in sarcasm, highlighting the unrestricted and unconditional privileges given to sons. Yet in the minds of the foreigners, they take it in a different sense. They already think of us Pakistanis as violent nation and think that each house in Pakistan is loaded with deadly weapons etc. The whole article is just bizarre and is creating more harm than any good.
I agree with the ban. Go for it!
Its just non sense, these mobile companies don’t force you to use late night packages or make calls, everybody has to decide for themselves that whats right and whats wrong, more than mobile companies its the responsibility of parents and elders to look after their children and teach them what to do, parents should refrain from giving mobile phone to their kids in early age. if banning packages is the only solution, than cable TV, internet should also be banned at night, because students and youth waste their time watching TV and surfing internet, this idea of banning late night packages is just a childish act.
The article is good and well written and makes you laugh too. But if you view the matter analytically, it is a matter of concern if not as big as load shedding, prices and other problems that the writer has pointed out, it does has its place in the long list of issues that we as a nation face.
Generally this move, by the legislators in Punjab Assembly, has received a lot of criticism from the youth. That was quite natural because it was largely seen as a move by the elders to control us and undermine our freedom. Lets not all get carried away by considering it yet another tactic by the elders to boss us around. Had this issue been raised in some youth tv show or on some youth forum it won’t have received such a bitter criticism from the youth.
If these legislators are so much concerned about saving the “future of Pakistan” they should empower them and instead of imposing things should engage the youth before passing any legislation related to them. It felt as if the MPA who moved this resolution in the assembly either wanted some cheap popularity or was unhappy with her own children using the late night packages.
Its not at all bad to raise matters of social nature in the law making bodies but our law makers should engage youth if they are seriously concerned bout them. I really liked the last line of your article Murtaza “Pity the youth don’t vote … maybe we should?”
The youth should believe in the power of their vote because that’s the only democratic way to bring change.
I’ve 1st hand knowledge that, even Western seniors say that they’ve sabotaged their family structure due to too much freedom to youngsters, especially girls. They say that when their ladies got financial freedom and government’s support to live independently, they stopped listening to their male caretakers and even left their homes.
Do we need to be 60 years old to understand what they’ve learnt in 60 yrs? wise people learn from others mistakes.
I appreciate the resolve of Punjab Parliamentarians and wish they take more of such initiatives. It is there responsibility to guide the society, if they understand. lets guide our youngsters properly according to Quranic teachings and do not provide them opportunities to go astray.
Men have been assigned to take care of women in all possible ways, as they’re unable to understand many situations properly and go after apparently beautiful things or fantasize. this doesn’t mean to stop them from any productive activity in business or job circle.
I don’t agree with most of things the writer has conveyed through this article.
he seems to be an enthusiastic youngster; needs to get mature to realities and know the facts.
I don’t understand what are the merits of late night call packages except for indulging in cheap over the phone. I mean what would a guy want to say to some one after 12 in the night? I really liked the dress you were wearing today? You were looking cute today? Come on!
As for the mobile phone companies, if they really want to benefit the people at large why not introduce those economical packages in the day time. The truth is that these packages are the bread and butter of these companies and they want to increase their profit margins no matter what the cost.
Awesome!
I agree with the ban……I have seen my friends getting failed just because they talk all night…….
These companies are money oriented….they don’t care if anyone is hurting as long as they are making money.
I also agree that there are more serious issues than this but anything affecting youth is as important as anything else.
Can anyone give me a logical reason why there are late night packages anyway?
Love the logic, lets blame phone companies for your friends bad grades. Typical Pakistani logic, love to blame the world except for ones self. Oh and which companies are not money orientated? This ban is just another reason for the world to laugh at us. Well done Pakistan you make us proud.
They are there so the companies can make money, when otherwise lines are free.
It about time someone did something about the lack of morals and behavior that seems to be rife in our society. So what if the government wants to introduce this bill.
The youth always think in their most immature years that they are the most mature people and are educated and can make the right decision.
How does talking long hours when its actually the time to sleep so important and acting mature? Why cant you talk when its a day time. Its not because its expensive…but because during day you have mum and dad awake…
For once..a good step by Govt to protect morality of the youth…and their useful bedtime.
Discouraging communication between young people. Imposing limitation on contacts will promote social frustration in the younger generation. Men & women are complementary by nature. Gender contact is essential to boost self confidence, personal grooming and other such trait in young people. Nights tariff is cheeper and young people could afford it better then day time tariff. Sexes have to learn to regulates their activities without the parental authority at all stages from birth to marriage if society is to progress.
Love it, this is awesome.
I don’t think the government’s PR department did a good job of explaining why this would help. When framed in this manner it just seems silly. There is no logic behind it other than score some points with older parental voters that probably like the idea of minimizing inter-sex interactions. It’s a parents issue, not the governments.
@ Zain: I’ve lived in the US as well, and as far as I can tell, other than diaspora communities that transplant their own traditional values, they seem pretty happy with letting the genders mix.
@ Asif: please explain how late night cell phone packages are hurting our productivity, after all, don’t we still have traditional phones, the internet, skype, messenger etc. I frankly think it’s a little insulting just because ads are focused at a particular segment that the group needs to be protected. Lets protect children from candy by increasing prices so they can’t afford it. The sugar makes them fat and the sugar high makes them unproductive and more prone to indiscipline.
Hahaha, that is funny.
Well said Syed & fully agree.
Don’t agree to this article at all. I am not a fan of this government but looks like they are at least doing something appreciable. This ban is inline with a similar “informal* ban on some cafés during former government’s rule. One who likes freedom as in western countries, he can go a live there. No one is stopping him/her. The gist of it is that freedom is important but should not come at the cost of ruined social & moral values. I can go on and logically negate each of author’s assertions but history taught me not to waste my time on this.
Regards,
As far as the ban on late night call packages is concerned, I completely agree with it and would suggest to ban these late night call packages all over the country.
Brilliant article! It’s one of the most ridiculous laws I’ve ever heard. The government isn’t worried about Education or even the media, no… ban late night packages. It’s a slap to freedom of expression, freedom of existence and freedom of marketing. I am appalled. Maybe if they can actually stop covering their behinds and really take notice of the things that can improve the youth (education, jobs, health) we might see a change. But I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
Mr.Jafri ,
You can change the name from Pakistan to India also. Moms and Dads and Aunts and uncles are same!
We Pakistani never agree on anything.
This should be implemented all over Pakistan, if we save our youth only then we can save our future.
Please try to understand!!
It’s ironic and ridiculous, but not at all unexpected.
For once a sensible step has been taken.
“……it’s taken as a sign of how masculine his son is and seen as time to hand out cigars and buy the boy his first Kalashnikov”
I couldn’t stop laughing..
I agree with the writer’s view. There are lot of other pressing issues for the Government to tackle including terrorism, utilities and 18th Amendment.
They should not waste time on such legislation, as rightly pointed out by writer, that there are many other alternates to youths than mobile phone cheep packages.
Nice one!!
Who said that banning the late night packages has any thing to do with the intermingling of the opposite genders. You have created your own image of the subject and criticized it. Sorry but criticizing only for the sake of criticism is not very healthy.
Well said my friend !
Agreed that politicians should be working for what they are elected to do! and not waste time brainstorming on how next to make the ordinary citizen’s life more miserable than it already is in this society!
God I hate politicians!
Well, Punjab Provincial Assembly is working hard on non-issues, few days ago same assembly was trying to pass a bill on Lahore Gym Khana, membership for all Assembly members. And after that they are trying to cut late-night mobile packages. I think they should work on real issues.
Well said.
Hey, nice article Murtaza. I hope some one from the government will read it, and for once realize there are bigger issues than asking telcom companies to stop promoting late night calls.
Looking forward to your next blog =)