Doomed Destinies

Pakistan In Picture

 

Asem Mustafa Awan

These are one of the few million with doomed destinies, survive on a day-to-day basis, and have no means of sustenance as all their worldly possessions are displayed with nothing in hiding, unlike the elite who have stashed billions abroad that are enough to clear all the national and international loans of Pakistan.

They live on roads and in the picture they are seen by the side of a railway track, and with luck, they will all survive despite the moving trains that pose a life threat.

They will move to somewhere safer but it is not the likelihood and where they should go is a question that has no answers. These are millions of unaccounted-for Pakistanis who don’t even have the means to get national identity cards (CNIC) as they don’t have the money to pay for getting the facility which has its own complications.

Illiterate and with doomed destinies, these unaccounted-for Pakistanis have no say in the ‘land of the pure’. These voiceless inhabitants of Pakistan should ring a bell for the policymakers who take hefty purses besides money from international donors in showing their woeful pictures.

Nothing changes for these poor and those who receive money on their name get rich by many millions.

In the recent-past floods, thousands have become homeless and these unaccounted-for Pakistanis to date have not been rehabilitated as the water hasn’t receded from all parts of the country.

The global reports on Pakistan as regards food safety are alarming and one doesn’t look far as the hungry people sitting by the side of roads and stampedes resulting in over 20 deaths for flour tell the sad state of affairs in the ‘land of the pure’ that has an abundance of everything but is poorly managed.

Imran Khan who was ousted nearly a year ago had initiated many programs for the poverty-stricken masses namely Ehssas and Health Card that were revolutionary and were appreciated by the population sadly after his ouster they are now shelved and only a miracle can revive the two for the millions of Pakistanis who for the first time were able to receive some benefit from the ‘state’.

The ‘Langars’ (free food outlets) and Panagahs (shelters) were feeding thousands though people in individual capacities are reaching out to the poor at the ‘state level’ it has a different dimension altogether.

Serving the people with care and compassion with minimal resources can change the fortunes of Pakistan as leading by example, things change and materialize more efficiently.

The field is open and it is for anyone and everyone to make space in the public’s heart but how to get in there is only possible with service and commitment which has been missing from the people at the helm of affairs in Pakistan.

It is time that somebody should stand up for the voiceless and make efforts in making them heard who will make it happen, only time will tell.