Pakistan people lament apathy of rulers towards their miseries

Every ruler of Pakistan in the past gifted the price-hike, unemployment and poverty to the poor. Politicians make tall claims of solving public problems but as soon as they get power, they thrust the problems of power and gas loadshedding upon people.

These views were expressed by people from different walks of life through telephone calls in ‘Jang Economic Session’ held in Lahore. “If the political and military rulers are responsible for aggravation of the problems like poverty, unemployment and price-hike, then newspapers and television channels also could not be absolved of this responsibility because they also talk politics,” said Ms Tahir, a teacher of a private university.

Muhammad Saad from Johar Town said the effects of the global economic crisis are reaching Pakistan and as a result 2009 could be the year of increase in people’s problems.

“Whether it is People’s Party, Muslim League-Nawaz or Muslim League-Quaid, all have pushed the poor to further poverty. Presently, neither there is bread and butter nor electricity and gas in any house and two to three members of every family have been rendered jobless,” said Bushra Zulfiqar, a housewife. “What our politicians and rulers are doing? Why don’t they jointly solve people’s problems,” she asked.

Armaghan, a student of a local finance college, said that four to five per cent people are usurping the whole nation’s resources and there is nobody to question them. He said that billions of rupees are being wasted on political and social activities as well as unnecessary political tours. He said that not only the rulers of the past are responsible for the prevailing economic woes of the country but also the sitting rulers are equally responsible.

“The number of the poor, unemployment and price-hike are being augmented under an international conspiracy so that people take the course of revolution. Frustration is growing in the country and our archrival India is benefiting from it. We must forcefully respond to the Indian threats,” said a retired teacher.

A worker of an industrial unit said that how could the country make progress in the industrial field in the face massive power and gas loadshedding, which is rendering thousands of people jobless because one shift has been done away with by many industries. He said that if attention were not paid to the price-hike and other problems, the unemployment, poverty and price-hike would assume devastating proportions, forcing people to express their distrust in the political parties.

Ali Ahmed, another industrial worker, said: “I have not received salary for the past couple of months. Neither I have bread and butter nor electricity and gas at my home. What should I do now? I am thinking either to adopt begging or else gather courage to commit suicide but suicide is forbidden in Islam and I can’t do that.”

Sakeena Bibi, a housewife, emotionally said that why do media people not ask the rulers as to what are they doing? She said perhaps it is fate of Pakistanis that they get gifts of price-hike, poverty and unemployment in every era. She said that even once a day meal has become a very difficult for many.

“Currently, prices of everything include element of interest, which is leading to growth of inflation. Economy will gain strength from lowered interest rates,” said Abdul Wadood Khan.

Mian Ehsan said that unemployment, poverty and price-hike could be decreased through abidance by the commandments of Almighty Allah.

“People’s problems will not stand resolved until the people from lower class get the power,” said Arif Chohan.