Dubai: A video of an Indian man appreciating the Lahore-Islamabad motorway rest stop went viral on Pakistani social media. Identified as Indian journalist, Arvind Saharan, the man took a two-minute video to describe the stop and thank the people in-charge. While many netizens appreciated the gesture, others thought it was too nice to be true.
Highway to happiness
The video, originally uploaded by Saharan, was shared by Pakistani tweep @AsharJawad on January 19. It quickly blew up from there, amassing over 63,000 views. Saharan describes his usual experience visiting Pakistan, and then goes on to describe why this particular trip is different.
“...I thought I should tell you [the viewers] about this. Until now, whenever I came to Pakistan (from India), I used to feel like I am still in India. This time I feel like… you know how people say they go for vacations to a ‘foreign country’? …I feel like that. I am currently along the Lahore-Islamabad motorway in Pakistan.”
He then goes on to describe in the two-minute video, exactly what about this particular motorway struck him. The presence of the fully functional ‘Bhera Sevice Area’ rest stop for travellers.
“I have stopped my vehicle. There is a parking lot here, with proper lines and spacing. When you park the car, someone comes to clean your windscreen and the like. In the back there is a full food court.... There are toilets. There are 15-20 food outlets. There are bus stops where you can get down and eat. When people travel, a common worry is that they will get stomach problems or that there are no proper toilets.”
The last part of the video ends on a positive note.
“My heart is happy after coming here. I have to appreciate the people who made complete and necessary facilities for the citizens here. Hats off to whoever planned and created this place. Well done Pakistan. When someone does a good job, it deserves to be seen. And I am happy to see this.”
Suspicious social media
A few Pakistani netizens thought that the speaker’s dialect was too distinctly local.
Tweep @RuchikaTalwar commented: “Having travelled to Pakistan countless times and knowing the place and people like the back of my hand, I can confidently say, this person is not ‘Indian’. His accent, twang and delivery of speech are more West Punjab than East [the eastern Punjab province is in India]. The motorway is a marvel for South Asia undoubtedly.”
Others Twitter users already had the rebuttal ready.
Tweep @AsharJawad posted: “Urdu is also an Indian language.” He further added: “Maybe he is from Punjab or Uttar Pradesh [two Indian states where Urdu is spoken].”
Many others social media users were happy to appreciate the motorway and Saharan’s message.
Pakistani social media user @Saeedamjad18 tweeted: “Thanks for such beautiful remarks about our country. Our country’s impression ... causes people to show hesitance about visiting Pakistan. But we are comfortable and happy.”
Tweep @AliMeha84322536 simply wrote: “Thanks Sir.”
