I have been going to Pakistan regularly during the last five years, also seeing that people don’t join me very much from other countries. It has been only me, although on Sunday two weeks ago the Emirates flight from Dubai to Islamabad was full of foreigners, which is a good sign. Whatever they were going to do in Islamabad, as my local friend so well put it

Anyway, this story is mostly about my tailor in Islamabad. Or what he told me couple of weeks ago. I have known him for 1,5 years or so, since he made the first suits for me based on a recommendation by my dear friend. Two weeks ago I visited him again, ordered one suit and talked with him. We talked much far longer that my security officer would have liked me to do (sorry S.A, you just take so good care of me!) , in one of those not-so-modern-by-western-standards-supermarkets. But we talked. We talked about his business, his life and everything that is around him. Nice things and sad things.

He told me that he is planning to leave the business he is doing nowadays, something he has been doing in second generation, following the footsteps of his father. The reason is not his business would be bad but the world around him has turned into a too risky and scary one. He said he feels to be surrounded by crazy people who might do crazy things since there are foreigners and diplomats visiting his store. And let me correct, he is a Pakistani guy, looking like a Pakistani guy, not a foreigner. He owns a local business in Islamabad, even that he is very well educated in UK – lawyer actually, funny enough – but is frustrated. Frustrated about his own local life around him.

There has certainly been plenty of instability in Pakistan over the years. As I always keep saying, it’s not Pakistan’s fault they are having that nowadays strategically so important position on the world map. But when a regular-tailor-Joe feels that he has to do something else because he doesn’t want to be involved with the crazy people inspired the crazy people around him, it’s time to go back to issues I wrote around half a year ago – Hope vs. Fear.

My dear friends around the world; we are not talking about CNN-driven stereotype image of Pakistan here. It’s a local guy doing his local business with local people – and he gets frustrated of the situation. For all of us knowing and following the country from outside, the picture is different. We can go there but we don’t have to, and most of us are picking up the latter option. We can follow and make comments without any personal link to the daily situation. We are, actually, the outsiders.

Despite the frustration and barriers, I do believe that hope wins always, eventually. Sometimes it‘s just close to the edge when the hope arrives; maybe that’s the case with my Pakistani tailor. He is a very good guy, educated, positive and smiling, funny, despite the world around him. And despite all the spirit and knowledge he has, he gets frustrated since his own home country is not as it used to be. Borrowing his own words, everybody is cheating each other so what it can be? A very good question, and very sad question as well.

Who knows what will turn out for him? I was supporting him heavily to go abroad, to use the talent and business he has but for people appreciating what he can do. Let’s see, maybe I shall find myself running a partnership with him to deliver his 2nd generation knowledge into the western world, where we can both pay and support for his work. And for his future; and more and less for the future of the whole country.

Even that I did feel the frustration of my tailor, I shall still keep my never-ending optimism to believe that hope wins. Eventually and finally. I had a chance to change plenty of ideas about the future of Pakistan and in Pakistan couple of weeks ago, with so many people from a minister to a diplomat, from professors to industry people, from tailor to young students and I know that there is a better future for that country. There is so much positive news coming in the very near future and eventually, the hope wins and people are able to do the big change. The change they deserve, the change they expect, the change they see through those smoggy curtains. The change they will do; by themselves but supported by rest of the world. Exactly as it has been the case in so many countries around the world.

To keep his identity hidden in terms of the security and social pressure, I would just call him with a code name “Islamabad Tailor”. That how his number is stored in my cell phone, after all. So, my friend Islamabad Tailor, just keep going. Do everything we discussed and you shall have a good future, without all the threats you are seeing now.

Cheers for every professional tailor in the world! Cheers for people working for their own future! Cheers for all of us ready to make their contribution in this world!

P.S. if you are seeking a tailor please let me know. My “IT” might fly over.