With the increase in positive cases in Pakistan, and while several deaths continuously being reported, people are scared of getting out of their houses. The Government planned to apply a lockdown, thereby restricting the movement everywhere. People are somewhat happy to enjoy family time in home. I see many people posting different recipes of desserts and small eats. Some post very tempting delicacies of different cuisine, some are busy in posting different guessing, mind games and quizzes, but seldom ever post about the people who are below the poverty line. Who were alive on daily wages? How unfortunate they are that they have to feed their family members on whatever they earn on daily day to day work.
To get my refrigerator stock up I visited a big super store, near the fruit market I saw strawberries which were once selling for around a rate of 400/ Kg, now upon asking the guy just kind of begged me to take it on whatever money I give. This actually touched me and thought of helping rather than stocking my refrigerator.
I started collecting groceries and eatables for the people who are on daily wages. I checked and asked few of my friends to help, to which everyone agreed. And I found out they were already on a lookout to find someone for a kick start. Even those friends who were miser in giving birthday treat; were in front to help. This made me realized that Pakistani people are there to help and have a soft heart when it comes to helping anyone because in a few days I managed to collect an amount which was hard to manage, so I outsourced it to one of my friend as well and turned his garage into a storehouse and made ration packs with essential eateries, few of the essential toiletries including soap, and Dettol or any disinfectant, the addition of toiletries was done forcefully because of the shortage of sanitizers and the situation. I added a brochure as well on how to save themselves from this pandemic.
As the corona virus spread everywhere and in Pakistan as well; people are rushing out to help people who are in dire need of food and other things. Pakistani people pride themselves on their volunteer culture and when there is a country wide shutdown to halt the spread of this pandemic, citizens are into action helping their brothers everywhere, seems like the Islamic principle of brotherhood comes into action whenever a catastrophe or calamity hits.
Our Prime Minister Imran Khan states that 25% of the Pakistanis cannot afford to eat two times a day, and as the country is getting stringent lockdown measures, many daily wage earners are going hungry but they have hope and they are Pakistanis which bonds them together, where fortunate people are there to assist the less fortunate in unique and an inspiring way, especially when the Holy month of Ramadan approaching many are offering Zakat, the traditional Muslim charity Tax for the daily wage earners.
Across Pakistan, appeals for donations are widely circulating on every social media platform. Not only men but women are also playing a significant role by offering their houses as collection points for donations. Many have started circulating their numbers on social.
According to a research conducted by CAF (Charities Aid Foundation), Pakistan’s spot rose from 91 in 2018 to 69 in 2019, which is a substantial rise of around 20 spots, which is impressive as compared to other Asian states, it is expected to rise more in this catastrophic pandemic which struck every part of the world. Pakistan turns out to be one of the most philanthropic nations; has a somewhat weak concept of egoism and capitalism. People who are fortunate enough consciously make the effort to ease the burden of those who are not fortunate enough and they ease their burden as a duty which rings especially in catastrophic conditions such as COVID-19.
May we remain safe and healthy during this pandemic.
The writer is an academician and teaches marketing and management subject at different universities.
