Dunkin’ Donuts Pakistan offers free meals to Indian visitors as goodwill gesture

The international restaurant chain hung a banner with text "Peace Amity and Understanding".

Dunkin’ Donuts outlet hung a banner offering free meals/ Twitter: SariaBenazir

At a time when ties between India and Pakistan have hit a low, Dunkin’ Donuts is setting an example of friendship. Dunkin’ Donuts outlets in Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar are offering a free meal along with a donut to Indians visiting Pakistan on a short-term visa. The stand taken by Iqbal Latif, the owner of the chain, comes as a goodwill gesture in response to refusal of accommodation to a Pakistani couple in Mumbai last week.

“I felt bad when I saw this that family had to spend [a] part of [the] night [on a] footpath near a police station and another part at a pavement at the railway station,” Latif told dawn.com.

The international restaurant chain hung a banner with text “Peace Amity and Understanding”. The banner also read, “All Indian short-term visitors with valid visit visa are allowed a free meal and donut as a Goodwill Gesture to promote harmony peace understanding and live between two neighbours”.

Story continues below this ad

“It’s not a big deal, but an effort to invoke the teachings of Gandhi Ji who preached love and coexistence all his life,” he said.

The offer is up for grabs in 26 franchises across the cities and it carries the flags of both the countries.

According to a report on the BBC, Latif aims to spread the message of peace and harmony among the citizens of two countries in the light of Shiv Sena’s protest against Ghulam Ali’s concert and book launch of Pakistan’s former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri. “We want to answer the Shiv Sena with love,” he told BBC.

Pakistan has shown its warmth for Indians. Remarkably powerful idea by the Dunkin Donuts. Love surmounts all.

— Saria Benazir (@SariaBenazir) October 19, 2015

Dominic A LeBlanc, the Minister of Public Safety, said, "The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada." (PTI Photo/ File)

Khalistani outfit SFJ threatens to ‘siege’ Indian consulate in Canada

India1 hr ago

Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice has called for a "siege" on the Indian consulate in Canada on September 18, accusing them of running a spy network to target Khalistan supporters. The group has also threatened the Indian consulates in Canada and released a poster with a target on the face of the Indian High Commissioner.

View all shorts

Live Blog