Do you know what is more dangerous than the coronavirus these days? The virus of misinformation and minting money off people in the same manner. Something that folks like Waseem Badami and Fakhr-e-Alam should do well to keep in mind.
Recently, the news anchor and social worker joined hands to introduce and market an ill-conceived product that they alleged can be used for ‘treating coronavirus’. Much like some big brands, these two are also cashing in on a global pandemic, by introducing a herbal tea called ‘AntiCov’. Yes… you read that right.
Even though the tea has nothing to do with the coronavirus or its cure, the two proudly announced the launch of the product in a tweet that was later deleted.
Fakhr-e-Alam wrote in his tweet that people who used the herbal tea are recommending it to others who are affected. Really? Someone gets affected by a virus that has taken more than 2,000 lives in Pakistan and you recommend them this? Herbal tea? As a relief?
Of course, Pakistani Twitter did not take lightly to their shameless money making strategies:
Making a product called "AntiCov" is not just misleading but also it is a crime
Waseem Badami is a millionaire, him looking to profit off the Corona virus c
Fakhr e Alam is a respected national celebrity, he should feel some shame for this endorsement#PakArmyReadyToEnd_Endia pic.twitter.com/aXM61NKi54— Engr. Wadood Afzal🇵🇰 (@the_WadoodAFZAL) June 7, 2020
Here is AntiCov herbal tea brand of @WaseemBadami profiting from pandemic by using the name of #COVID19 fooling people. What a shameless using global pandemic to make some earnings. 🤦🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/qtDzn7gFuN
— Muhammad Yaseen 🇵🇰 (@YaseenGhanchi) June 7, 2020
All scientists in the world r idiots. They r spending millions on research yet unable 2 come up with cure. Here v have n ambitious entrepreneur cum TV host who can see a business opportunity in COVID crisis by packaging some herbal tea & selling with label of Anti Cov! Brilliant!
— Usman Ali (@usman_ali) June 7, 2020
The former singer, however, did not accept his mistake and further instigated the problem by having an argument with the ones speaking against ‘AntiCov’.
Oh khuda kay waastay please read before you jump. It is NOT A CURE nor a REMEDY. Relax your overzealous critique. Read before you jump to conclusions.
— Fakhr-e-Alam S.I & S.E (@falamb3) June 7, 2020
What does LIPTON mean?
— Fakhr-e-Alam S.I & S.E (@falamb3) June 7, 2020
Or are you suggesting its only a brand name which coincidentally resembles Covid.
— Abdul Waheed (@Abdul_WaheedCA) June 7, 2020
Although the world has already seen a great number of tragedies in 2020, some brands remain spineless with their marketing tactics. The ones in Pakistan aren’t any better. Marketing off of the global pandemic and social protests like the Black Lives Matter has become all the norm these days.
People in Pakistan, who are already forwarding fake remedies on WhatsApp, are now forwarding pictures of the herbal tea as a remedy for Covid-19. The world will see a cure for the coronavirus eventually but is there a cure for people selling disingenuous products?
Some say Waseem Badami and Fakhr-e-Alam should be arrested, while others suggest filing a petition and suing all the parties involved. What would you recommend? Let us know in the comments section.
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