KARACHI: TV celebrity and aviation enthusiast Fakhr-e-Alam, who made headlines last year for becoming the first Pakistani globetrotter, came out to strongly defend the youth who was apprehended on Sunday for attempting to operate a self-made “flying device”.
A resident of Pakpattan, Mohammad Fayaz had indigenously designed an aircraft using readily available materials and was preparing to fly it in the Rang Shah neighbourhood of Pakpattan, but the Police seized his aeroplane and arrested him.
The police registered a First Information Report (FIR), according to which, Fayaz was apprehended for building an aircraft without a ‘permit’ and ‘performing aerobatics’ in the makeshift flying machine.
Fakhr-e-Alam took to Twitter in support of Fayaz and asked Pakistanis to draw inspiration from his story. “This is the story you should share with the world & take pride in,” he added.
A man in a village near Pak Pattan made a small aircraft out of his own limited resources. This should be your story to look upto & be inspired by. This is the story you should share with the world & take pride in. This brings glory to Pakistan. Don’t taint it.
— Fakhr-e-Alam S.I & S.E (@falamb3) April 1, 2019
He continued in another tweet saying: “This young man deserves our appreciation and respect. Pakistan cannot be a country where technology & innovation is punished. He should be lauded & I would like to fly with him in his home made airplane. Anyone wants to arrest me please do I will surrender myself.”
This young man deserves our appreciation and respect. Pakistan cannot be a country where technology & innovation is punished. He should be lauded & I would like to fly with him in his home made airplane. Anyone wants to arrest me please do I will surrender myself. Pathetic. https://t.co/paDSCfuQ53
— Fakhr-e-Alam S.I & S.E (@falamb3) April 1, 2019
The famed singer also urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to intervene in the matter and treat the homemade aeroplane maker as “a national asset.”
Dear PM @ImranKhanPTI can you please tell your Punjab govt to intervene. This man should be interviewed & asked what made him do this & how he succeeded. This man should be treated as a national asset. These are the kind of stories that inspire youth & future aviators. https://t.co/paDSCfuQ53
— Fakhr-e-Alam S.I & S.E (@falamb3) April 1, 2019
Fakhr-e-Alam also pointed out flaws in the education system of Pakistan, calling it “terrible”. He asked people to encourage others “daring to innovate or explore” in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Pakistan is late on science & technology. Our education system is terrible. Private sector flourishes as education like health is a business rather than a public service. We MUST always go out of our way to support, encourage people daring to innovate or explore in STEM.
— Fakhr-e-Alam S.I & S.E (@falamb3) April 1, 2019
In a series of tweets, the 42-year-old singer shed the light on the design of Fayaz’s “self-made flying machine”. He said the Pakpattan man “was putting together an ultra light kind of design. I am told he is a Labour worker. Self taught about aviation. I really want to know about this amazing Pakistani.”
One can see where he was getting inspiration from ….Muhammad Fayyaz was putting together an ultra light kind of design. I am told he is a Labour worker. Self taught about aviation. I really want to know about this amazing Pakistani. Anyone has any details please share here. pic.twitter.com/e39KpbDt0U
— Fakhr-e-Alam S.I & S.E (@falamb3) April 1, 2019
