‘Made in Pakistan’ fan stirs up wind in UP
A Pakistan-made fan found at a madrasa in Uttar Pradesh sparked controversy after its photo went viral online. Police investigation revealed the fan was legally shipped from Saudi Arabia by a worker there, and no illegal activity or wrongdoing was discovered
By Harikrishnan R
Hyderabad: Controversy erupted in Jungle Vishnupura village in Uttar Pradesh when a fan made in Pakistan was discovered during a routine repair job at a madrasa.
The incident occurred at Madrasa Qadriya Haqiqatul Uloom in Kushinagar when three fans with technical faults were sent to a local mechanic for repairs.
During the repairs, the mechanic, Akbar, discovered an inscription that read ‘Made in Pakistan’ along with a label carrying the manufacturer’s name, Al-Ahmad.
An individual present at the scene allegedly clicked a photograph of the fan and shared it on social media.
The post soon gained traction on social media, with citizens expressing concern over how a fan made in Pakistan had made its way into India despite trade restrictions.
Two locals later came to the shop to inquire about the fan, Akbar said. They then proceeded to report the incident to the Vishnupura Police.
The police, on receiving the report, arrived at the madrasa to conduct an inquiry. Subsequently, the fan was seized from the repair shop for examination.
Madrasa manager Mohammad Yunus and village resident Shamshuddin, who had donated the fan, were taken into custody for questioning by the police.
During the interrogation, police found that the fan had been shipped to India by Wajid Ansari, Shamshuddin’s son.
Wajid, a labourer working in Saudi Arabia, had bought and shipped the fan from Saudi Arabia through cargo services in 2020.
Shamshuddin had donated the fan in 2023 after the madrasa sought help from village locals to help students cope with the summer heat.
Police officials contacted Wajid through a video call and verified documents related to the purchase and transport of the fan.
Officials later said that no signs of illegal activity were found during the inquiry and cleared the madrasa of any suspicion.
While direct trade between India and Pakistan remains minimal, with India importing almost no goods from Pakistan, informal or third-country trade through Dubai and Singapore continues.
Despite India’s attempts to crack down on the trade of goods originating from Pakistan, estimates suggest that informal trade worth nearly $10 billion takes place annually.