By:Numra kamal
\nWhile improving the nuclear capacity for the next war, no one knew that an invisible enemy would attack the whole globe, leaving even the super powers in distress. COVID-19 proved devastating for developing countries like Pakistan due to their declining economy and already overburdened health care system. The country has been under partial lockdown as all the social gathering points have been shut, to minimize the transmission of virus but this situation has created serious challenges for the lowest income groups. Genuine efforts need to be made on individual and community level to confront this challenge of identifying and assisting the poor fractions of society and save them from falling a prey to penury.
\nUnfortunately, Pakistan is a country where 24% of population is living below poverty line according to Baluchistan Drought Need Assessment report revealed in February 2019. According to a report, this percentage of poverty is expected to double, putting millions of other people out of work, if the lockdown prolongs. Currently we are facing a dilemma. If the lockdown is lifted up, it would escalate the sufferings and starvation of the already marginalized group and if the lockdown is maintained, the poor daily wage earners would starve to death. So there is a dire need to identify and assist those whose income resources have dried up. Now pressure is mounting upon those who are employed in the informal sector as they donot have any savings and they need to be aided in every case.
\nThe government is already trying to bridge up the income gap and maintain the supply chain through the relief programme but if the lockdown continues, implications might be grave. So, we must gear up to show solidarity and provide assistance to those who are trapped in the lockdown. The workers working in industries, the labors working in mining and infrastructure, the peddler supplying on roads and workers of daily wage and many more like them are to stay at home which means a clean cut on their earnings. So, we must identify and sieve the needy among the masses to provide them with basic needs through fair means. It is not the time of political scoring rather, it is a time for every individual to play his role in easing the life of others, which can be done through safe charity practices.
\nThe month of Ramadan has arrived and Philanthropy has been breaking the records in Pakistan in this month. In Pakistan, people spend billions of rupees in the form of Zakat, Ushar, Fitrana and other forms of charity which can prove to be a big relief for the neglected but the question here is, Is our charity going in the right hands? Our donation and help will be meaning less if it couldn\u2019t feed the poor. We can combat this situation if we succeed in identifying those who are really deserving. Self-interests need to be put aside. We need to define a unified strategy to ensure that, the supplies are reaching the needy. 72 percent of the people of Pakistan give charity in Ramazan but majority of them do not know where and how their money is being spent.
\nAccording to Stanford Social Innovation Review, Pakistan\u2019s annual charity distribution is about \u201c1 % of the GDP, rating the country closer to wealthier nations like Canada and United Kingdom.\u201d This means that the charity could help prevent the otherwise catastrophic consequences, if it reaches the right pockets. The donors must acquire information about the organization or individual before donating their charity. Therefore, there is a need to create awareness about safe charitable practices among masses. The media and the government need to play their role in educating the people that they must investigate whether their money is reaching in the right hands or not.
\nAmid the current scenario, no one can assume that he is not vulnerable to the disease. So, to fuel hate for corona victims is not a suitable stance. The covid-19 victims are already passing through difficult times of their lives, being the patients of the global pandemic, they are already suffering with anxiety and a fear that their existence can harm their loved ones. They need to be helped irrespective of their sect, religion and caste. Islam forbids any form of intolerance and hatred towards the people of any other faith and it promotes inter-faith and inter-sect harmony We seriously need to develop acceptance towards other sects and faiths in order to ensure our peaceful coexistence in society. Our conducts and dealings must protect humanity as a whole rather than focusing on a particular sect or throng of people.<\/p>\n
Corona pandemic is no less than a tragedy for a nation like ours where the lives of common people are miserable as a result of faltered economy, political instability, trust deficit between government and masses and diversity in religious doctrines. Therefore, we have to accept the challenge of helping the underprivileged sections of society. Our charity can save the life of millions. We must spare the part of needy from our resources and we must ensure that our charity is reaching the right place. This is the time of leaving the differences aside, and emerge as a nation, a stronger one. Together, we can fight the pandemic by serving humanity irrespective of our faith otherwise \u201cthe lockdown cure would be worse than disease.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By:Numra kamal While improving the nuclear capacity for the next war, no one knew that an invisible enemy would attack the whole globe, leaving even the super powers in distress. COVID-19 proved devastating for developing countries like Pakistan due to their declining economy and already overburdened health care system. The country has been under partial …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":561,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n