Are we even lauding right?
It came across as one of the major and proudest stories for Pakistanis worldwide. Zara Naeem Dar, became the world’s Associate of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) topper this year, putting the country on the map of intellectuals.
What an absolute achievement it was to receive the highest marks in the financial reporting exams of ACCA, which took place in December 2020. You seldom receive such riveting stories that inspire and give a nudge to our youngsters to aim for the stars!
The government of Pakistan also lauded her tremendous efforts and the story should definitely be the major trendsetter. And yet that wasn’t the case, for at the very same time, another video began to make the rounds and quickly became viral not just in Pakistan but across the border too. Social media influencer Dananeer Mobeen quickly became the talk of the town as she showed how the ‘burger clan’ actually goes out to ‘pawri’.
While the viral video definitely is a hearty and happening attempt, which hits on your light mood quite strongly, it is pretty evident that the netizens are more inclined to promote and celebrate with their own versions of the pawri sensation. It is same even across the border.
Two young women have the internet abuzz. While some are actually drawing parallels between them, suggesting our nation is better off at promoting a silly video rather than the hard-earned achievements of a brainiac, others are quick to point out that it isn’t really fair to take them both in similar framework of comparison, for they are targeting two very different kinds of audience.
That might just be true. Zara who hails from a military family stated, that her reason for success is her father who always encouraged the girls in the family to attain great results and reach for the stars. The achiever has been getting interviewed through various channels and even Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar appreciated her work on social media: “I keep saying this. Give Pakistani girls an equal chance and they can take on and beat the best in the world. Proud of Zara Naeem and wish her the best in her future goals,” he wrote.
On the other hand, the quirky 19-year-old quickly whose fame transcended borders, has been getting ample media coverage, with the ever-popular and controversial host ‘Nida Yasir’ even inviting both the women of the hour on her show. Netizens were quick to point out that inviting them both on the same show insults the hard and rather ‘real’ efforts of Zara. Some have been quick to vent out and feel our media professionals should get their priorities sorted and determine what needs awareness and acknowledgment and at what platform and level.
Whatever views and differences exist, one thing is apparent – netizens are quick to laud and very quick to criticize as well.
