A Crisis of Hunger or A System of Exploitation?

A clip that went viral on social media a few days ago showed an Iftar arranged at the capital’s Shah Faisal Mosque by a generous individual for guests. But the way people rushed to get to the food made it look like they were fighting an enemy army instead of having a meal together. People had taken advantage of free eating events before, but this wasn’t the first time that the food was ruined by a control crowd. We see bad management at public events or meetings where food is served, leading to chaos and waste. Such videos are carelessly shared when they appear, raising questions about how foreigners view a nation with nuclear weapons whose people clamor for free food.

But those who act in this way are not the only ones to blame. Instead, the real problem is with the system that creates two groups in society: the bourgeoisie and the poor. This system is called capitalism. In simple terms, there are two classes: the affluent and the underprivileged. Policies that further impoverish the poor and eventually turn them into beggars are what the capitalist system depends on to survive. Long lines of people are seen everywhere in Pakistan, whether they are waiting for a wealthy donor to deliver ration packs or outside the Benazir Support Program offices. In a strange twist, these people, whose money comes from dishonest means like bribery, usury, or theft, try to be forgiven by praying for the poor to get to heaven.

Water can be used to make a simple comparison. When there isn’t enough water, people wait in line for a single tap, which often leads to fights. When a river runs freely, on the other hand, there are no problems like lines, fights, or loss of water. Getting rid of poverty follows the same rule. Both short-term and long-term plans must be used by the government if it wants to end poverty and restore people’s respect. Short-term plans, on the other hand, should be given more attention because they help right away. People need food, clothes, a good school and health care system, and a place to live. Long-term projects are good for the country, but they usually serve the needs of a certain group more than the needs of everyone else.

Every time a political party takes office, it employs both short-term and long-term planning. To get people to vote for them, though, governments usually focus on short-term projects that help people right away. Pakistan’s political system is flawed by family politics, which means that parties care more about pleasing their leaders than meeting the needs of the people. Thus, bad policies have continuously benefited the elite at the expense of the general populace.  Consequently, the standard of living in a remote, underdeveloped village remains similar to that in the capital, and whenever free food, Iftar, or ration is available, people rush to grab it.  

The well-being of its citizens is the best way to judge how well a government is doing its job. Any efforts made by the government will be useless if the people stay hopeless. The day that the government starts to really care about the poor and make their lives better, the people will give the government their full support.

Visitors from other countries should be able to see that the standard of living is the same from Karachi to Khyber. This would make them realize that the people who live in this nuclear-armed country are indeed wealthy. However, doing this calls for significant government efforts in short-term planning to improve the standard of life for the average person. In order to ensure that no citizen is deprived of fundamental necessities, which their wealthier counterparts can readily access, inflation must be controlled and essential commodities must remain affordable. If the government charges its people taxes, it also has to make their lives better.

Naseem Mandokhail

The writer is an Islamabad-based journalist.

This author does not have any more posts.