Valentine’s Day, a moneymaking opportunity nonetheless
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Every year Valentine's Day draws a mixed response from people, with some supporting it and others celebrating it but a few protesting against its observance.
This year seems no different, as on one hand people are excited about the day while some are staging protests and moving the court against it.
But amid all this, the people who benefit nonetheless are the shopkeepers and vendors. Hawkers selling heart-shaped balloons stake out street corners and florists do a brisk trade.
Despite it is termed a Christian holiday, Valentine's Day has gained popularity among Pakistanis, with flower vendors reporting booming sales this year, as in recent years.
However, in Peshawar, members of the district assembly on Friday had unanimously passed a resolution to ban Valentine's Day celebrations.
“A particular segment of our society wants to impose Western values and culture on our youth by celebrating Valentine's Day,” said the resolution, which was presented by a member of Jamaat-i-Islami.
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On DawnNews
Comments (32) Closed
Feb 13, 2016 10:51pm
The vendors are making a living selling balloons flowers etc. People let poor people survive.
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Feb 13, 2016 11:36pm
Govt. must ban this immoral western practise.
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Feb 13, 2016 11:36pm
The poster says it all - "No love, No valentine"...
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Feb 13, 2016 11:51pm
Trying to find a point in this article. Money making is always a great help for economy as long as it is not illegal business.
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Feb 14, 2016 12:29am
I am not going to comment on the subject. But I was impressed with the colorful pictures. Let people follow their own hearts.
Excellent pictures though.
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Feb 14, 2016 12:55am
True the V Day is money making business - it is like even our religious festivities are more so money grabbing religious thugs and mullahs. On the positive side of the money making business is that it gives jobs to work honestly for living from manufacturers to distributors, delivery people, poor boys and girls proving helping hands to package and sell. What is wrong with making some money honestly to fill the stomachs of the poor people. It is good opportunity for the society though Mullahs may feel disgusted of showing LOVE for other human being...
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Feb 14, 2016 01:49am
Leave it on people. Let the nation decide its observance or not.
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Feb 14, 2016 03:30am
Haha! Can't believe people are so stuck to this trivial idea. I wish we saw more people come out and protest against no gas, electricity, bad education and worse life conditions in general. Sigh. Talk of priorities.
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Feb 14, 2016 03:50am
Which of the event in this world is not a commercial one?? Christmas? Eid? Diwali?Mother's Day? Father's Day??
How many of those who resist Valentines Day will not jump on the first boat [visa or no visa] to the west ?
Name one thing that was created in Pakistan?? TV? Radio? Car? Motor Bike? Bus? Train? Plane? ...even though Pakistan tops corruption but it was not created by Pakistan.
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Feb 14, 2016 06:07am
Indian subcontinent is mired in Victorian morality. We do not talk about sex and love. No wonder there are opponents of the Val Day on both sides of border.
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Feb 14, 2016 06:30am
Only hopeless single men protesting. Do not blame Valentine day, mothers day or fathers day as money making occasions;or blame marriages, eids as money making days . All these occasions are for family reunion. If you do not spend money others who are dependent on small businesses will not survive.
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Feb 14, 2016 06:36am
People protesting are all single depressed people. Valentine day is for all the people you love including mother, wife , sister, grand mother and others, its not just the love story with girl friend. These protesting people should find a women to marry, and celebrate valentine's day. President of the country belong to same group of odd people who are belong to anti valentine, anti women, male dominant society. . Shame on these sociopaths.
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Feb 14, 2016 07:43am
Businessmen also need money to buy gifts for their loved ones. :>)
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Feb 14, 2016 08:22am
No support for such event as this is totally a foreign events, how much we will copy foreigners, do they copy us.. but good that its creates stimuli in the economy and creates demand for product sold by low income people...
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Feb 14, 2016 08:29am
We are undefined People.We are confused. Even there are no any type of excitement about this day in abroad but here People are fighting good for nothing. But yes agree to DAWN that many are earning Doubled...
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Feb 14, 2016 09:30am
...even in a relatively conservative city like Peshawar, it is being observed and vendors, shopkeepers are selling Valentine day related items...goes on to show nobody can stop the power of love.
It is all about love and nothing western or obscene about it, love for all mankind, all humanity.
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Feb 14, 2016 09:52am
Oh everything is made in china!
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Feb 14, 2016 04:33pm
Happy valentines day
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Feb 14, 2016 08:49pm
Some more money making opportunities Eid, Christmas (an internationally commercialized day) even Muharram, Dewali, Dussehra, Eid-ul-Adhaa, and of course, Valentine day.
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Feb 15, 2016 09:25am
a prost justifies efforts to make money,so does a thief etc---not everything can be measured from monetary gains--there are values more than money.copycatting everything from west is itself self defeating--want to copy from west--copy excellence in science and governence of govts--dont copy things from west in which they have failed themselves--west in the love of capitalist greed justifies anything which sells and make money weather it is at the cost of social fabric,family break and illegal /illicit relations resulting in single mothers,increase in divorce rate with resultant bad effects on children etc etc--when a society imbibe everything without considering its unique make up and sensitivities related to culture and religion,it is bound for chaos and disintegration.
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Feb 15, 2016 12:17pm
The government must stop all these poor people from earning a livelihood and making money at once. The poor must become poorer and the richer must be allowed to become wealthier. Moral activities such as bribery. lying, deceit and theft must be promoted so that Valentine's day may be banned. That is the only way to keep our republic free from outside influences of truth and sincerity.
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Feb 15, 2016 01:46pm
Valentine day? Who cares who bothers. Not long ago went to give blood sample for blood test tested. The nurse said "Aah it is your birthday". I told her thanks for reminding, but why should I ever care about what day I was born? What significant contribution have I made for the well being of anyone on this earth that I should celebrate anything? We all can see how many people go wild about the day they were born so I asked someone why do the people go mad about it? The response was " Aah well we just see people doing it as a tradition, so we do the same".
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Feb 15, 2016 04:17pm
hmm so much time no spreading HATE - useless protesters wont protest on more meaningful topics
like Jobs to jobless
schools for children
free electricity
Free education
oh these all are western cultures right !!!!!!!
go on waste time
happy valentines to all - spread love & happiness
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Feb 15, 2016 09:55pm
nothing is good or bad but thinking make it so. Shakespeare.so there is nothing bad in this day itself but its our thinking that make us hate celebrating it. so I m not against it. and don't want to save or change people every one has his own perspective.
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Feb 15, 2016 09:59pm
Such a lame thing to waste your time on protesting...
The sale of balloons, flowers, gifts will mobilize our economy. When people spend money the economy grows, this is what we have learned from the Western world. We should use this to our benefit.
Think of this day as a day to celebrate Love and peace.
This notion of everyday is mother's day etc is totally stupid... We celebrate Eid to Thank God, so should we say everyday should be Eid. Friday prayers are very important, so not all prayers are important? Please think before you protest. Use your time to help humanity instead of standing on a street and shouting.
Our religion even teaches us to celebrate important things in our lives.
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Feb 16, 2016 05:14am
Let those who want to celebrate it, celebrate it.
Let's not shove force other who don't want it.
Live and let live.
Pakistan zindabad.
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Feb 16, 2016 07:16am
@adnan khan: What is immoral about valentine day. Why not let people be happy for a day or two.
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Feb 16, 2016 07:52am
@T. M. Wazir There are many "other" good businesses.
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Feb 16, 2016 03:26pm
Personally I am no big fan of such artificial and westernised cultures. However, if something like this can help us bring in love, be it for your soulmate or a friend, and spread happiness, even to a poor street side vendor selling flowers or balloons, then why not... Its just a day in the year.
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Feb 16, 2016 06:32pm
let the people live at their own
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Feb 16, 2016 08:12pm
Every made up days are money making practices ,like mother's day fathers' day etc etc .Let young generation have something to enjoy !!!
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Feb 16, 2016 08:40pm
Life is very short compare to eternity,in cosmos distance compare it with light years, just thing 70 years or 100 years on earth is nothing compare to eternity. So enjoy your life, and let enjoy others, don't be jealous. Love your family that's valentine.
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