Hira Qureshi
My first impression when we drove out of Quaid-e-Azam international airport was that Karachi has really changed!
No question that Mayor Mustafa Kamal has done a phenomenal job. Huge billboards were always there, but now you get to see a lot more from bridges to parks, and much better roads to fast-food chains that I never thought could exist in Pakistan. I had been seeing pictures of different projects that were under construction and even those that had been completed, but it was hard to believe until I actually saw them.
But here I was back to Karachi after years. And ‘My Karachi’ was nowhere to be found.
Believe it or not, people do try to stop at a red light now, (of course there are exceptions and excuses) and you would also see some people with paper bags and their old fashioned baskets instead of those black plastic shopping bags that were all over the streets of Karachi (and I highly respect them for trying on their part to solve environmental issues).
But before I could believe Karachi had changed for good, I heard someone knock on my window. I rolled down the window and there it was! The stark reality.
I had found the Karachi I thought I would see and just when I was about to believe that the Karachi I saw years ago had changed to a much better place, I was struck by the reality that everything hasn’t changed. The girl that knocked on my window was probably around eight or nine years old and was asking me if I wanted to buy roses. The first thing that came to my mind was about all different social service projects that were targeting child labor and homelessness. “So they weren’t a success?â€
As you drive around you would see kids working in restaurants, fixing cars, selling toys, flowers, candies and God knows what. And yet they still get yelled at by people who don’t want them to clean their windshields, or even knock on their windows, just because for them it’s too hot to pull down the window and let the cool air out (they probably think it’s snowing for those kids out on the streets).
Can’t they see the pain in their eyes? These children are trying to make a living. If we can’t help them, we have no right to scream at them either. It was very disturbing to see these children walking around, (usually bare foot) and trying to survive in a city that I heard had totally changed and on top of that they have to take these “Jhirkiyan.â€
It is obvious that the socio-economic gap has increased. On one hand, it seems as if all that exists in Karachi are the impoverished. On the other hand, the number of people eating out has greatly increased, but of course if a kid comes by all they get is an “attitude.†I also noticed that unlike before when you saw a bunch of tables right outside restaurants, most people would prefer to eat inside the restaurants. Pollution is probably a factor, but these kids also play a role. People don’t want to be bothered by these children, while they’re enjoying their food.
This wasn’t the Karachi I wanted to see. But before I lost all hope, I did find out that people like Shahzad Roy, were attempting to help these children attain a better living standard. I’m not exactly sure if it’s a hundred percent success, but at least some people are trying. Of course it’s nearly impossible for these few to end child labor and homelessness, but even if it’s a drop in the bucket, why not? It makes a huge difference in someone’s life. I strongly believe that Pakistanis living abroad can make a difference too. We always have excuses like, “we can’t do anything, I don’t trust this organization, We can never end these problems, and Pakistan will always remain the same,†but is that really true? There are opportunities out there if you really plan on doing something productive.
Other than that, there are still things that can bring a smile to your face. The cats still walk around the tables (that’s only if you decide to eat outside) as they did before and make you feel like you’re ‘home.’ I was actually glad to see them because that was one thing that I missed about eating out and seeing a cat come by and stare at me for food.  Just a side note, If you like chocolate, the “Kulfi wala†does have chocolate dip now. I definitely enjoyed that as well.
By the time I left, I came to the conclusion that although Karachi had changed, there are still disturbing realities that are sugar coated and portrayed as if they don’t even exist.  But I’m hopeful that although many societal problems still exist, there are people who are working to overcome these problems and we can play our role as well. Let’s be optimistic and say that sooner or later these issues will be resolved and we will have a Pakistan where all kids will be in school instead of being on the streets trying to make enough that will last them for a day or two.
We can make it happen!
Fascinating.
We now have the proof that the educated of Pakistan are not the problem.
Do we?
The other day, someone calculated exactly how much Shazia Masih’s parents “earned” from her death. Not sure if that was inflation adjusted.
And today we know how much a “beggar family” can earn. Presumably, if the beggar family can work longer hours, (why limit to 6 to 8 hrs?) they could conceivably double that income. We also do not know if this too is inflation adjusted. Per chance they may even have a “foreign bank account”?
Perhaps we can do a study by standing next to a traffic signal all over Pakistan and compute the disparities in income generation capabilities of each traffic signal and/or the city. One must assume that some signals are worth more money than the others. We could even ask the polling companies to compare the data and tell us which city is better for “begging families”.
We do not know if we need to make any adjustments for the weather. For example, if there is any correlation to rain or heat or cold. Finally, we are yet to learn if “our beggar families” are better than “their beggar families”, the ones from other countries. I have no clue how this can be done.
Sometime back, someone had blogged that there are “health benefits” when people drink the kind of water some people are “privileged” to drink. It “immunes” them from certain diseases. Yes, they should be grateful for savings on health costs alone.
And since Mai Jori Jamali has to “travel” two miles, I am sure there are additional health benefits for her as well as she is able to maintain good health through walking every day. And because she most likely carries a few liters of water on her head and does not even spill it, why she has excellent neck and back muscles. Perhaps the city girls should join her for some lessons on how to walk with water container on head, hands free. And if they could do texting while “traveling”, whoa, we might have very marketable skills.
But wait, did we not see the man on a bicycle, with a bundle of wood, taking a pause on the road to use his cell phone? Why there, now you have that too. He had solved his electric and gas problems.
Of course these are not isolated posts. I have heard this and more for a very long time. Always from “have-ed”. Never from the “have-nots”.
So, now we know, we do not need more schools, better jobs, clean water and electric power for all of the Pakistanis. Only some need it. Why waste money?
Even fewer need the quality higher education. And that can be arranged by diverting the resources from the rest of the people. Of course, we should be able to rob the national treasury as it is the natural right of the very privileged. And yes, the people in the 3 cities support these methods to create their own fantasy land, as long as they are in the game.
And yes, the good folks in “I-slammed everyone-else-abad”, why they should be able to get their own Supreme Court seat so that they should not even have to wait for the docket to free up like the rest of the people do. Makes perfect sense.
Well, this is also consistent with those who kept their faces straight when they told people, that those in grades 20 and lower cannot run air conditioners in their offices. And oh, yes, the grades 21 and above will share in the sacrifice and suffer by having to turn on the a/c but only after “11 am”. Now this is real sacrifice?
And through this we also now know, humanity begins at grade 21; at 11 am.
Speaking of grade 21, the drivers who drives those expensive imported cars, well, if they saved their entire paycheck all their lives, they would be lucky if they could save enough to buy a set of 4 tires for the car they are so privileged to drive.
Speaking of driver, the school where he drops off the children of the privileged, his children are not entitled to the same education. Why teach them? We need next generation drivers.
Now, I must confess, compared to these great leaders, Jinnah looks plain stupid for he did not even wanted to rent a car for his oath taking ceremony. He thought “Pakistan did not have money to pay for the rental”. What a crazy idea? No wonder Liaqat thought he was a crazy old man and went to check on Jinnah to see how long will he live?
And, how long away was this? 60+ yrs ago? How many years of wait is good enough for Mai Jori Jamali? How long is long enough?
So, I keep hearing that the illiteracy is the problem in Pakistan’s development. And that they are the fools who keep electing the vaderas, zamindars and the sardars.
Will the vaderas, zamindars and the sardars who suggested these reasons why we should not have better schools and hospitals and power and clean water step forward?
Of course, the educated of Pakistan will never come up with ideas like this.
Will they?
How can you place everyone living abroad in the same category? I don’t feel sorry for people “stuck” in Pakistan. I want to do something beneficial for them and through this article I was able to connect with HDF, and hopefully will be able to do as much as I can.
Soomro says:
June 24th, 2010 12:24 am
A quite repetitive and superficial rant! These days every nonresident Pakistani has found a new solution to our problems, which is to write about it, discuss it in elite events like Tedex (where a common Pakistani has no access) and feel sorry about those who are stuck in Pakistan.
I have an advice for everyone living abroad and yearning for change in Pakistan. Stop dreaming about it, just come back and contribute. If not then stop telling us what to do, that bit is all ready done by a lot of good people here very much aware of ground realities.
Ameen to that dua…we all hope and pray the for a peaceful and prosperous pakistan where the well off pay their rightul dues to the poor children of karachi and beyond. Never been to karachi, would love to visit, although i have only heard negative things about the city…
السلام علیکم حرا!۔
امید ہے کہ آپ خیر و عافیت سے ہوں گی۔
آپ کا آرٹیکل پڑھا بہت ہی شاندار تھا۔ واقعی ہم بھول چکے ہیں کہ ہمارے نبی مکرم محمد صل اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم نے ہمیں کیا سکھایا ہے۔ ہم تو فقیر کو بھی دینے سے پہلے اس کو ’’جج‘‘ کرنے لگتے ہیں کہ یہ تو صحت مند ہے۔ یہ تو حق دار نہیں ہے۔ مگر بھول جاتے ہیں کہ صحت مند فقیر بھی شاید مجبور سےکچھ زیادہ ہو۔
اتنے اچھے آرٹیکل پر اللہ تعالیٰ آپ کو اجر کثیر عطا فرمائے۔ آمین
والسلام و دعا
محمد احسان
Well i have a problem with giving alms to the young n healthy beggars. first of all they should not be encouraged into begging and giving alms does just that. they are better off working somewhere IF the government cant take care of them
secondly, i would like u to try this. stand near a traffic signal and notice how many times a beggar gets paid in one hour only. usually its a 5 rs note but some ppl give even more. in one hour a beggar can earn more than 100 rs. some even earn around 300 or so. i know some people who dont give less than 50 rs to them. now multiply that amount to 6 hrs or 8 hrs daily and 30 days a week and 2-3 beggars per family and u have an income of more than 60-70,000 rs a month. hell thats more than my wife’s and my pay combined.
dont be deceived by these professional beggars. i went to tariq road late one night long time ago and saw a line of beggars sitting on footpath eating chicken tikka in front of tusso, yes they deserve to eat chicken tikka too but everyday? that too by doing nothing and getting paid for it? what about saving some money for tomorrow? what happened to the cries “bhai 2 din se bhooka hon”?
apart from this i think the author is living in a superficial world. all major cities of the world have problems. only a tiny number of countries can boast cleanliness, proper health care and literacy. lets not forget that these changes take time. nothing happens in the blink of an eye. change is coming and we have to wait for it.