Against all expectations, the Pakistani pavillion at Hannover proved to be a rare success.
The Hannover Messe, held every year in Germany, is the world’s premiere industrial exhibition. In the past, Pakistan’s participation in it used to be only nominal. But it was a pleasant surprise to find that this year it was Pakistan’s flag and its pavilion that was one of the most prominent at this important international industrial platform.
Had I not been present there myself as an exhibitor, I might not have believed that we as a nation could come through and present ourselves in such a grand professional manner. My past experiences, both within and outside the country, had made me accustomed to expect little assistance from any of our government offices. But it was very different there.
As a child growing up in a foreign country. I was imbued with patriotic spirit from my parents who proudly used to bring us home. At later stage, while undergoing the rigours of an engineering programme in the USA, I held my Pakistani identity and ideals paramount. It was really in the US that I first came across the shade of Pakistani culture which gave me a cultural shock relating to ‘Our’ own people. The apathy of our embassy staff towards its fellow citizens was another experience I was not prepared for. Yet I was determined to settle down and carve my destiny in my homeland.
On my return I would take offence to the most frequently asked question, “Why did you come back?” Omar, my friend and business partner for the last 15 years, has a similar background. Together we have faced the rigours of running an engineering company in Pakistan and have become, over the years, more tolerant to this question asked of us so often. We soon realized that in Pakistan, it is no less than a “jihad” trying to survive and grow on pure merit.
Not to say that I have ever regretted my decision to come back. The handling of the Hannover 2005 by the organizing team has further strengthened our resolve to dig in and do our bit to make Pakistan strong.
We had been asked to participate in the exhibition by a friend. Mr Imtiaz Rastagar, who happens to be a successful exporter of engineering products from Pakistan and also the CEO and Vice Chairman of the Engineering Development Board. He came to our factory one day and gave us little choice in the matter. He told us that this year he had committed to take a strong contingent of selected engineering companies to portray Pakistan as an “engineering destination” to the world. Solely out of our reverence for this dynamic individual, we consented. But we had little expectation of achieving anything substantial.
The Hannover Messe was held this year from April 11 to 15. Never in our wildest dreams had we expected to see our government so well prepared and forthcoming in assisting us. Who would have expected to see the Pakistan Pavilion looking one of the best and the most impressive in terms of its size and layout? Every detail, from the choice of colours to the media presentations, were worked out meticulously. While visiting international exhibitions, I would always be impressed by companies which had decorated their spaces well and had hosting staff serving the visitors. Our Commercial Counsellor had arranged for well trained hosting staff to serve visitors of each stall. Any visitor coming to a Pakistani stall would be immediately served with refreshing drinks and snacks by smart, professionally trained hosts with elegant demeanour. Our organizers had arranged well crafted Pakistan made footballs and handbags as give-always to visitors. Lapel pins of the Pakistan flag were available in abundance. It was indeed heart warming to see people of all nationalities including those of our neighbouring country, carrying the hand bags displaying the message, “Engineering Pakistan. The right place. The right time”. Much to our amazement, after we had placed our products for display and hung our banners, a team of German interior designers, engaged by our Counsellor, arrived to help us. Consequently, every Pakistani stall was tastefully decorated with flowers and dry arrangements giving us all a smart, professional outlook.
It was not only showmanship that prevailed in the Pakistan pavilion. Serious business was also discussed quite often. Pakistan’s Minister of Industries, Mr Jahangir Tareen was present there most of the time, playing his role in introducing us to the German ministers and parliamentarians who were invited to speak and meet us at the exhibition. Evidently, his support must have been there all along which enabled us to get that far so well. I heard Mr Tareen speak at the business forum and found that he made a good impression with his extempore speeches. He gave credit to his predecessor Mr Razzak Dawood and displayed an uncommon comradeship reflecting the continuity in policies in the days to come.
The most substantial achievement from our participation in the exhibition is our faith in the government’s determination to put Pakistan on the road to industrial progress. The team spirit displayed by the integration of resources poured in by the government and the industrial sector of Pakistan, was exemplary. The team that worked hard to make Pakistan’s participation in the Hannover exhibition a grand success, included, besides Mr Imtiaz Rastgar, Mr Almas Hyder Chairman of the newly established Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Corporation, Mr Nabeel Hashmi Chairman of the PAPAAM, Pakistan’s Commercial Counsellor in Germany Mr Fawad Hasan, our Commercial Secretary in Netherlands, Ms Sarah Saeed and Mr Menin Rodrigues of the private sector. Indeed we have a long way to go in carving a name for Pakistan as an “engineering destination” but it gives us hope that we have taken the first step towards this arduous journey. The challenges ahead are immense. The enquiries pouring in are testimony to the fact that we have caught the attention of some serious businesses in Europe. But the problems relating to the hurdles we face at home, continue to persist. From archaic government agencies giving us the run around, to the lack of skilled labour, the poor infrastructure, the shortage of engineers and the deteriorating quality of education, to mention only a few. I only hope that the other government functionaries would succeed in turning around as we have seen at the Ministry of Industries, our Commercial Missions in Europe and at the Engineering Development Board.
Within our country, attitudes have to change. Here I am reminded of a successful industrialist who was ultimately forced by adverse circumstances created by government functionaries in Pakistan, to move his business to Dubai. He was often heard saying that in Pakistan if your business is making money, government functionaries eye you as a criminal and expect a share in your success. And if one fails to meet their demands, they may make things difficult for anyone to carry on. Perceptions have to change so that the government departments are not seen as a burden being supported by the hard earned money of the industry.
But we have seen the light at the end of the tunnel. The unusual spirit demonstrated at the Hannover 2005 Industrial Exhibition shows that when Pakistanis unite and pool their energies, they emerge as a force to be reckoned with.
Against all expectations, the Pakistani pavillion at Hannover proved to be a rare success. 
