Will the Farmer Sow the Crop Next Year?

Asem Mustafa Awan

Islamabad: For decades, Pakistan’s labor force has endured relentless exploitation under the scorching sun, their battered and bloodied hands a testament to their resilience amidst systemic corruption.

Despite being taxpayers, relief for the impoverished remains a distant dream, existing only in the rhetoric of policymakers while eluding those in dire need.

In the heart of the twin cities, areas remain untouched by basic amenities like electricity and water, while gas connections are a luxury only attainable through bribery. Recent revelations of unauthorized gas connections in housing colonies underscore the pervasive corruption that plagues the nation’s infrastructure.

Amidst the ongoing wheat harvest, demand for labor surges, leading to the exploitation of vulnerable women and children who are subjected to bonded labor. Contractors, devoid of humanity, demand impossible quotas, treating workers as mere tools in their pursuit of profit.

The wheat harvest coincides with a national scandal, where millions are made at the expense of the national exchequer, yet those responsible evade accountability. Inquiries into the matter often fade into obscurity, leaving the perpetrators unpunished and the impoverished further marginalized.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/may-day-is-may-day-and-may-day/

Farmers, urged to sell their yield at meager prices, find themselves unable to cover costs, resorting to drastic measures like burning crops in protest. The wheat flour shortage, exacerbated by corrupt practices, claims over a hundred lives as people are trampled in lines in a desperate quest for sustenance.

Amidst this turmoil, the question looms: will the farmer sow the crop next year? The uncertainty of their future hangs heavy as they confront the harsh realities of exploitation and systemic corruption. Yet, despite their battered, bloodied, and scarred hands, they cling to hope, their resilience a beacon of strength amidst adversity.

As the sun sets over the federal capital, the image of two elderly women in Southern Punjab, sorting wool in worn-out clothes serves as a poignant reminder of the plight faced by Pakistan’s labor force.

Despite nearing seventy years, they toil tirelessly, every rupee earned a lifeline in their battle against poverty and deprivation.

The writer is a journalist based in Islamabad and writes on a wide range of issues.

Photo Credit: File Image via Google