Deep down in the heart of Texas, a little bit of Pakistan Zindabad

phoenixdesi · March 24, 2015, 1:24pm

too much of politics these days…so lets change the topic a bit.

an interesting read.

Deep down in the heart of Texas, a little bit of Pakistan Zindabad - Blogs - DAWN.COM

SID_NY · March 24, 2015, 1:47pm

Re: Deep down in the heart of Texas, a little bit of Pakistan Zindabad

Texas is rapidly becoming a collection of many miniPakistan areas. Especially Houston and Dallas are very large communities. Especialy houston is becoming like Missisaga of Canada or NY or some parts of London. What I find interesting is that these two live further 150 km of Dallas in a much remote area but still keeping Pakistani traditions alive which is wonderful. Great coverage.

O and btw good luck in changing topic from politics, i guess people come here more to find opportunities to criticize, if they can find some room here :)

phoenixdesi · March 24, 2015, 2:21pm

Re: Deep down in the heart of Texas, a little bit of Pakistan Zindabad

yeah i know....sugarland in texas has so many pakistani and indian families. same is true about dallas. people bad mouth texas but the quality of life is great. great infrasructire, big affordable homes, better weather etc.

SID_NY · March 24, 2015, 2:41pm

Re: Deep down in the heart of Texas, a little bit of Pakistan Zindabad

Thats the reason now I really wana move there. Enough snow shoveling!

Captain1 · March 24, 2015, 2:55pm

Re: Deep down in the heart of Texas, a little bit of Pakistan Zindabad

<--- part of Pakistani collection in Texas :D

SID_NY: If you move to Dallas, you will get to see some snow, since snow is a 'rarity' you might get an excuse to not show to work :D

Anwer_Pasha · March 24, 2015, 2:57pm

Re: Deep down in the heart of Texas, a little bit of Pakistan Zindabad

Love this
This is Pakistan day parade
Here we celebrate that like armed Forces day

teggy · March 24, 2015, 7:26pm

Re: Deep down in the heart of Texas, a little bit of Pakistan Zindabad

Thanks for sharing brother phoenixdesi.

There’s a town in Virginia; it’s named Lahore.

phoenixdesi · March 25, 2015, 11:58am

Re: Deep down in the heart of Texas, a little bit of Pakistan Zindabad

really? i didnt know that.

phoenixdesi · March 25, 2015, 11:58am

Re: Deep down in the heart of Texas, a little bit of Pakistan Zindabad

was talking to my friend in NY 2 days ago…you guys had 10 inch snow just few days ago? and more to come this weekend

glad i am out of there!

teggy · March 25, 2015, 3:34pm

Re: Deep down in the heart of Texas, a little bit of Pakistan Zindabad

Yes, indeed bro. I’m sorry for hijacking the thread, and although I don’t believe everything on wikipedia is the ultimate fact-based truth, but here’s a little history behind the name and where the town stands now:

The village, it was told, was established by an American couple in 1860s who chose its name through random reading of a book on (the then) British India, which was quite in news those days because of War of Independence fought by the natives against the English in 1857.The name was derived from City of Lahore, which is now in Pakistan.
**
Pakistan’s Response**

The story got Pakistani media’s attention in mid seventies when a Pakistani American journalist, Mr. Akmal Aleemi wrote a column in a popular Urdu Daily, Imroz. The column informed about the existence of Lahore in Virginia, which Mr. Aleemi discovered accidentally, when he lost his way in Orange County. The story although, got lost in people’s memories and life went on.[SUP]citation needed][/SUP] Khalid Hasan, another journalist, broke the story once again in early 2007, with a pleasant news of a Lahori soul (Noor Naghmi) who was trying to buy the village of Lahore in Virginia.
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Purchase of lands**

Noor Naghmi, son of very well known[SUP]citation needed][/SUP] broadcaster Abul Hasan Naghmi brought the American Lahore to the news once again in 2007. The junior Naghmi, is a financial services professional in Vienna, Virginia. After a years long negotiations with Nancy Wallace, a farmer and tough negotiator who owned the 235 acres (0.95 km[SUP]2[/SUP]) of American Lahore including the center of the town, Naghmi was able to strike a deal for USD 3 million. It was not, however, an easy venture with an owner who believed she had no plans to sell, although “everything I have is for sale, for the right price,” she said.[SUP]citation needed][/SUP]
Noor Naghmi now, has a dream. The centre of the 1,500-resident farming town about 75 miles (121 km) south of Washington is a strip of whitewashed buildings on a quiet stretch of road. An old water pump sits idle. A faded Esso sign creaks in the breeze. “The venture is an expensive gamble for Naghmi,” a Washington based newspaper[SUP]which?][/SUP] says, but quotes Naghmi as saying, “I have this feeling I was born to do this. People might think I’m crazy for saying so, but that is what I believe.” He says he thinks that his successful ventures will help make his Lahore dream possible.
**
Noor Naghmi’s Plans**

Naghmi told the Washington Post’s Indian-American reporter Sandhya Somashekhar in 2007 that his $3 M deal will turn Lahore, Virginia into a regional tourist attraction for South Asians and others.[SUP]citation needed][/SUP] His plans include a banquet hall fashioned after his hometown’s famous Shalimar Gardens. He envisions a library and a museum dedicated to the histories of both Lahores. He wants to open a bed-and-breakfast place to serve chickpea curry alongside eggs and toast. He wants to organize Basant with all its fanfare and pomp in the American Lahore.
According to reports, he has begun negotiating with a film studio in Hyderabad, India, to create the facades for his buildings. He recently put up a sign — written in English, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi, advertising the coming of the Lahore Museum.