The deaths of five members of one family in Karachi last week, a young father, his wife, his sister and two small daughters, have shaken everyone who read about them. A handwritten note found at the home reportedly spoke of financial difficulties and of relatives who did not help.
Police have not yet established how the family died, and the investigation must be allowed to reach its conclusions. But the note alone asks a question of all of us.
Poverty is not just an empty pocket. It strips people of the ability to meet their children’s wishes and quietly breaks those of modest means who are too proud to ask for help. Burdened by unemployment, debt and rising prices, many keep up appearances because they feel they must.
Think of what a father endures when he cannot provide, or a brother who cannot pull his family out of hardship. A society that sees the smile but not the struggle behind it has stopped looking.
Have we asked after the respectable poor in our own streets? Helped an unemployed young man find work? Quietly settled a neighbour’s debt?
Feed the hungry, offer work to the jobless, and reach out to those who have gone silent. Government, philanthropists and those with means should ensure no family is left to struggle alone under hunger, debt and despair.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In Pakistan, the Umang mental health helpline can be reached at 0311-7786264.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Lahore Times.
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