"Pakistan may become one hell of a tourist attraction."
"If you are implying that the leadership of this country is using the quake to get a higher profile domestically through inviting foreign dignitaries to come visit then I think you are being facetious. Don't forget they are getting a lot of flak for their handling or mishandling of the quake victims."
"Which is being dismissed by the only one who matters."
"The only one who matters or the only one who has made sure he remains the only one that matters."
"What is this! A routine from the TV serial Friends or something."
"You do know what I meant?"
"I guess. Anyway the President is trying to get pledges from abroad and he has got them."
"All pledges don't translate into money as we know from the tsunami experience."
"Right and another problem with these pledges is that even if the money promised does find its way into the affected areas then too it will not be any new money, well no more than half a million dollars or so - the rest is from money that was already committed over the next two years to Pakistan."
"Ah, I see. So pledges have just brought forward the money that was already earmarked for Pakistan."
"Yes."
"Does Musharraf know that?"
"I doubt it. I mean the guy only knows what he wants to know."
"But with tourism or shall we say quake related visits on the rise we can expect to earn a bit more money in foreign exchange."
"Yes and Angelina Jolie is visiting the quake affected areas as a UN ambassador for refugees." "What if she adopts a child?"
"That will be good for the child." "Incidentally Brad Pitt is also with her."
"I wonder what the Maulanas will say to all that?"
"Something inane though I do hope they keep their mouths shut on that."