Poverty’s Fatal Toll

Asem Mustafa Awan

Islamabad: Faced with crushing poverty and unable to pay his bills, a man chose a tragic end by stepping in front of a train, opting for an instant death rather than a slow, daily demise.

As passersby gathered his severed remains, they found two months’ worth of unpaid gas and electricity bills among his belongings.

This heart-wrenching incident is not isolated but a stark reflection of the plight of millions facing the same fate across the nation.

Nationwide protests erupt as families struggle to cope with exorbitant utility bills. Children holding placards proclaim that even if they forego food and education, their families still cannot pay the bills.

This dire situation is compounded by the fact that this nation boasts the highest utility tariffs in Asia, yet its per capita income is so low that it pales in comparison to the luxurious lives of pets owned by the ruling elite.

Excessive billing, including new charges, forces people to sell their belongings just to retain basic utilities that often do not function reliably. This tragedy leaves many questions unanswered. Was the man’s extreme step driven by desperation, depression, or sheer exhaustion from trying to seek help to no avail?

Numerous state-run offices and buildings, built with millions of rupees to serve the poor, are breeding grounds for corruption. Scandals involving embezzled funds surface regularly, yet the stolen amounts are rarely recovered.

Meanwhile, the elite, with their pending bills and tampered meters, remain untouched, their influence ensuring they evade accountability.

The recently approved budget, which promises relief, will take time to implement.

Yet, the public’s desperation is already palpable. Incidents where officials are beaten for unannounced power outages highlight the growing unrest. These acts of rage and despair should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers.

The state must prioritize serving its citizens instead of exploiting them. This tragedy should jolt state authorities into action, addressing corruption, ensuring fair billing practices, and providing genuine relief to the suffering populace.

The time for complacency is over; the state must act now to prevent further tragedies.

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

Photo Credit: FilePhoto from Google.