Professional Beggary

From the advertisements of the black soaps, to the red Vitz driven by male chauvinists, the low network rates to the long marches, the uncontrollable suicide bombings and to the incessant protests on flogging of Chand Bibi, we survived the uncertain times. Sometimes glad, sometimes gloomy, gleeful, awed.

And sometimes frustrated! How many a times have we stopped our car and found ourselves swarmed by beggars. The whole troop escort you to the shop and then back to ride. You term them as not so needy, good for nothing, and snub them Nasso, but they obstinately stick. Most of us deem them professional beggars, who are just draining their lives and intently not working.
Begging has become nation’s way. The headlines read “Pakistan is Promised $5bn”. Wow, a handsome cheque, most of our nattily dressed politicians are seen gaping. It is beyond Islamabad’s expectations. Rosy days are back. Yet, I felt embarrassed. The President cladding Armani suit, Tissot diamond watch and boots, that makes even the best French designers gush with awe, is begging. What do you call it, Professional Beggary, huh?

Some people say that we carved out this nation solely for economic reasons. At least, this is our revived ideology founding the two nation theory. Now, where is our free and autonomous economic system? That dream has come to ruins with the replenishing of our beggar’s bowl. Being independent economically is what makes us a sovereign nation in the true sense. Otherwise, we are just the puppets. Our strings in the hands of IMF, World Bank, and Friends of Democratic Pakistan, yet another on the list.

Let’s mull over the disastrous and humiliating clauses that we will be obliged to be the beneficiaries of this aid. The conditions that subvert the writ of the state, as done by the terrorists, we rant. We are wheedled to letting it go by the offer of monetary aid.

This aid will cease the day we mistakenly owe our brothers and sisters in Swat and FATA. The day we clamor against the injustices inflicted on them. The day we put our foot down against the drone attacks. The day we react as vehemently against the countless women and children maimed in Swat as we did in Chand Bibi’s case. But no, we are paid. We thrive on it. We will hail the present trend to restock our bank accounts.

Once again, we as a nation are cashing in, as we cashed in on Afghanistan War. Now, we are capitalizing on our own brothers and sisters. At least remind those at the helm of the affairs the selfish slogan “Pakistan First”. What will our next patriotic slogan be “Punjab First”?
Moreover, how much of this aid will actually proliferate to the masses after the profligacy of those who receive it. Or will it be spent on only lavish parties, Rolce Royce, decorating the palaces and trips abroad?

This is avaricious. An Embarrassment and Indignation. Yes, our economy might be inflating but our souls are dying. There maybe more street lights, but our hearts will steep more into shadows. There maybe more luxurious and topnotch gadgets being imported into our country, yet our manners will remain like those of pagans.

It is time that we build ourselves financially, but on our own terms. Our foremost focus should be the subsistence level of the population and reducing luxury goods ,to say the least. We should rely more on our local products. Though, this demands immense sacrifices but this will make a profitable and autonomous economic structure in the long run.

This is a time of reform, of breaking the old chains, the old bigotry and the corrupt and fraudulent practices infested in our country. It is time we think not as individuals but shift our paradigm to country level. Think with Self Respect!