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28 Dec, 2015

Last week Indian actress Nargis Fakhri appeared in multiple Urdu language daily newspapers in Pakistan in an ad for telecom giant Mobilink — the ad, which featured Fakhri posing in a red dress with a cell phone, caused a furor.

People felt the ad was tacky, tasteless and unsophisticated, and called it out for objectifying the actress.

Read more: I don't agree with being objectified for my looks: Nargis Fakhri speaks out about controversial ad

And Ufone saw this as the perfect opportunity to cash in on the attention. After all, Ufone is to mobile network providers what Nando's is to the restaurant arena — their marketing is brilliant and witty and they've hit the nail on the head yet again.

The mobile network giant released their latest ad which features the slightly-less curvy Faisal Qureshi posing much like Nargis Fakhri in the Mobilink campaign.

As expected, the hilarious spoof sent social media into a frenzy.

Some people were concerned about Nargis' future with Mobilink — she's been involved with for the past three years:

Star Wars fever is far from over

Ufone's known for their quirky marketing antics:

However, certain people believe they should spend less time on their marketing and focus on other areas where they supposedly lack.

Has Ufone declared an ad war? Apparently so!

Comments

Ali Bachlani Dec 28, 2015 03:11pm
Only marketing is good by Ufone, their service is pathetic amongst all service providers in Pakistan. Ufone - Ugone
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ahsan Dec 28, 2015 03:14pm
much better
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zahid Dec 28, 2015 03:14pm
it is now Fakhru's turn!!!!!!
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fairy Dec 28, 2015 03:16pm
that is just hillarious
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Philosopher (from Japan) Dec 28, 2015 03:26pm
I love ufone Ads.
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nabidad Dec 28, 2015 03:35pm
Mobilink was my first network system and still i love it. But there is no doubt about that Ufone has clearly defeated Mobilink with its service, packages and its very energetic and lovable advertising team.
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Sayed Dec 28, 2015 03:39pm
Great Idea by Ufone ..... Only missing is bueaty.
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analyses Dec 28, 2015 03:41pm
Brilliant. Especially the caption below Faisal Qureshi 'Our phone is cheaper. Further, you do not need to hide to see our ad'.
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sufyan Dec 28, 2015 03:47pm
Nandos analogy... lolz
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iffi Dec 28, 2015 03:48pm
best ad of 2015!!! thums up U-fone . Ad is catchy as well as hilarious
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Sarim Dec 28, 2015 03:49pm
Ufone Rocks!
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Helping Hands Dec 28, 2015 04:07pm
Ishtihaar bhi chup kar dekhnay ki zaroorat nahi :D Just for this, I'm switching to Ufone!
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Skeptic Dec 28, 2015 04:07pm
Simply Ridiculous!!
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Brahmdagh Dec 28, 2015 04:23pm
Well Played.
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siri Dec 28, 2015 04:28pm
Damn cool, must be the ad of the year!
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Truth Dec 28, 2015 04:40pm
Tale: Fakhri to Faisal, Fakhri has full right to sue Faisal for copyrights
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da Vinci Dec 28, 2015 04:52pm
Well, saying that Mobilink’s ad did not attract me ‘otherwise’ is like saying Ufone’s ad did not amuse me. If you didn’t may be you do not have what it takes to go ‘otherwise’… Fruitful thinking for all liberal party…
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Muhammad Afzal Noor Dec 28, 2015 04:54pm
U phone Marketing team is superb their adds are always marvellous. They are supposed to provide more efficient service as well.
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Shiraz Dec 28, 2015 05:27pm
Damn it...Faisal and Ufone, you have done it again. Faisal my now have to rethink about Salma over Nargis balma :)
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Ghalib Dec 28, 2015 05:43pm
Quality speaks for itself Mobilink is many times superior then Ufone in service. You can make customers but good marketing but you need good service to retain them
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Kabeer Dec 28, 2015 05:45pm
Ufone ad is simply "ABSURD" !
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somethingfishy Dec 28, 2015 06:14pm
@Sayed "..... Only missing is bueaty." no sir, it is a very carefully selected getup of a person who's face is associated with Ufone ads. Beauty do not replace any of these things!
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Salman Dec 28, 2015 07:39pm
Haha too good.
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Indian Dec 28, 2015 08:40pm
Can someone explain me the reason for the outrage over the original ad?
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khan Dec 28, 2015 08:44pm
If a smart looking fit man is shown with a coke, is that objectification?
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Mumbai Indian Dec 28, 2015 11:38pm
Very funny :) Though it's not clear why the original Ad was targeted..
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Exlim Dec 29, 2015 01:07am
I like the original ad. This one is disturbing if Pakistani public prefers this one.
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Observer Dec 29, 2015 03:23am
Both should get the two best ads of the year award -- both are highly creative and original.
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Sachin Dec 29, 2015 07:08am
The Beauty, and the Beast!
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Rabia Dec 29, 2015 07:16am
Uphone ads just rock! I simply love this
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mehkan Dec 29, 2015 07:47am
Imagine the height of Pakistan's double standards. A man lying down with the same awkward pose is acceptable as compared to a female. You wonder why is the evil system in the country still prevailing, because the members are all in an amazing equilibrium. An equilibrium consisting of factors like double standards, narrow mindedness and fear of progress , among many others. God! I wonder why the common Pakistani is not smart enough to look at the society's actual problem. I am disappointed with this. This ad is not even funny!
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Zeeshan Rasheed Dec 29, 2015 12:23pm
Ufone rocks.... ;-)
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MAHBOOB ELAHI Dec 29, 2015 01:35pm
Newspapers and other TV channels must follow the social decorum in their Ads. Because Ads represents our social values.
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Sajid Sajjad Abbasi Dec 29, 2015 02:04pm
I got a Ufone sim just for this add. I love U-fone for their comic adds.
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rashid khan Dec 29, 2015 04:43pm
@Ali Bachlani its because services are not given by chinese. all operations everything they handle now..god bless pak teleco
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Faizan Muhammad Dec 29, 2015 07:23pm
@mehkan your point has some substance such as when you talk about male dominated sort of society but I wonder why people are serious all the time. This seems to be excellent counter ad but if you follow the ad pattern of youfone, only then you'll understand some fun within. Otherwise, just a man lying down like this seems odd. lastly, as a matter of personal opinion news section and entertainment should be kept separate. It diverts attention. There should be some difference in newspaper and magazine.
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AG Dec 30, 2015 10:13pm
hilarious!!
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Afsana Dec 31, 2015 11:52pm
Hahaha...ufone adds are really funny..!!
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