Struggle for Survival

Asem Mustafa Awan

Islamabad: In the heart of the ‘Land of the Pure,’ where resilience meets adversity and the struggle for survival takes precedence, a series of poignant images capture the harsh truth that many Pakistanis grapple with daily.

Shazia Mehboob, in capturing images, has depicted real-life scenarios. In one frame, a small girl sits on a weathered wooden cart, her mother overseeing her while simultaneously selling intricately woven Baya Weaver nests.

Their makeshift existence lacks the comfort of a conventional home, and the Baya nest, crafted through countless trips to the forest for twigs, becomes their humble abode. The worn-out wooden cart stands as a testament to the hardships it has weathered over the years.

The photographer, through her lens, skillfully encapsulates the raw emotions etched on the faces of her subjects, each harboring a compelling story begging to be shared with the world.

The common thread binding these individuals is the relentless pursuit of sustenance, a stark reminder that the road and the struggle for survival go hand in hand. An elderly woman, donning spectacles, wrestles with sugarcane sticks, embodying a tenacity that transcends age and potential ailments. In her struggle, she epitomizes the indomitable spirit required to make a living.

Read More:https://thepenpk.com/a-cry-for-shelter/

These scenes, once foreign to Pakistan’s societal landscape, have become increasingly common. In a country not long ago dominated by a male-centric social structure, women were confined to household roles. However, the shifting dynamics reveal a narrative of economic desperation and survival.

Several plausible reasons might explain why these women have taken to the streets to contribute to their families. One plausible scenario is that the male breadwinner may have sought employment elsewhere, trying to keep the family afloat amid the widening gap between the government-mandated minimum wage and the escalating inflation rate. Tragically, the consequences of this economic disparity manifest in rising suicide rates and incidents of robbery, all driven by the dire need to make ends meet.

Decades of insensitive policies and apathetic governance have pushed this resource-rich nation to its knees. Shazia Mehboob’s evocative photographs serve as stark evidence of the precarious situation, capturing the vulnerability of a child who should be immersed in free education but is instead relegated to selling lemonade.

Throughout her day, this young entrepreneur encounters various individuals, each interaction accompanied by a barrage of abuse and mental torment. These images, in their poignant truth, reflect a nation grappling with depression and having lost its smile.

Despite possessing unparalleled global resources worth billions of dollars, the nation’s collective focus narrows down to the immediate challenge—putting food on the table for the next meal, uncertain if the divine will provide for the day after.

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

Photo Credit: Shazia Mehboob