Dubai: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan is being mocked online for referring to Africa as an “emerging country” in a speech during the Envoys Conference on Economic Diplomacy in Islamabad.
While the speech was made on Friday, social media users in the country have caught on to his statement now, with a video clip being shared by many.
In the clip, Khan is heard saying: “Africa is an emerging country. What are we doing in Africa?”
The context behind his statement, which was to urge Pakistani ambassadors and high commissioners in other countries to play a role in paving the way for foreign investment, was completely lost when tweeps focused on the fact that Africa was not a country.
Tweep @AnsariFaisee76 posted: “Get lessons in geography Mr PM, before giving lectures to foreign office envoys. Africa a country? Seriously... #Pakistan @ImranKhanPTI”
@Madadgar tweeted: “Imran Khan needs basic schooling again. Africa is not a country, please.”
Tweep @ImGreenGuru wrote: “I don’t know how you graduated from Oxford PM @ImranKhanPTI, but #Africa is a continent not a country!”
@hizbeikhtelaf added: “Remember George W. Bush had also said that Africa was a country. At the end of his tenure a journalist had published a list of all the funny things Bush had said. It was a hilarious read. We will have a long list when Imran Khan is done.”
However, his supporters stood up for him by stating that he was referring to some countries within Africa and it was a minor error.
Tweep @tanzeel_naqvi wrote: “I can see tweets making fun of @ImranKhanPTI for calling Africa a country in a speech. Speaks volumes about his success that how pedantic his adversaries have to get to find faults in him in any way possible.”
@AmeerSh74791014 tweeted: “He meant countries in Africa are emerging economies. I understand when my PM Imran Khan speaks from his heart. I know some people will not understand and will be jealous of our PM.”
Tweep @arehmanspore posted: “He knows Africa is a continent. Poor chap can’t express in Urdu. In English he would definitely say African continent! Give peace a chance. @ImranKhanPTI”
@bamalik123 added: “Imran Khan calling Africa a country is a slip of tongue. Opposition pounced upon it as a major crisis of Pakistan because Imran Khan opponents have run out of issues. To err is human.”
