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Islamabad:
Millions of flood-affected people in Pakistan are celebrating Eid
Saturday with the hope that their privileged countrymen will spare
a thought for them on this Muslim religious festival.
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of the
month of Ramadan, during which Muslims observe fast from sunrise
till sunset to seek divine blessings. Most of the 'zakat' (Islamic
charity) during Ramadan were diverted towards the flood-victims.
"We had never thought that we'll have to live on charity but water
has taken away everything that we had", said Shaukat who was
displaced by floods on the Sindh-Punjab border. "This Eid has no
meaning for us because how can we celebrate when our children are
dying of hunger", he regretted.
The government had, before Eid, announced a compensation of
Rs.20,000 for each family displaced by the floods to let them
prepare for the festival. However, the promised relief could not
reach the deserving in time.
Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the plan could
not be executed before Eid because of logistical reasons. "We have
initiated the process and it is likely to be completed within 30
days," he assured.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, in his message on Eid, urged
philanthropists to donate generously for the needy. "Share your
happiness with those who are not as blessed as you are," he said,
adding that "the government is alive to the situation and is doing
its utmost."
In the absence of the cash-strapped government's relief, several
NGOs and media organisations have stepped in to fill the void.
Celebrations have been arranged in relief camps as TV channels
have sent-out crews to the affected areas and dedicated the
transmission to highlight their vows.
Chief of PML-N, Nawaz Sharif, who visited Charsadda in
northwestern Pakistan to celebrate Eid with displaced people,
criticised the government for its inability to take measures in
time to help these people to celebrate the festival properly.
"The problem is within the ranks of the government," he said and
warned that failure to act quickly will further aggravate these
issues. "The government should stop looking towards the outside
world and must undertake indigenous efforts to combat this
challenge," he stressed.
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who is spear-heading a
fund-raising campaign from the platform of Geo TV was in Sindh on
Eid.
"We want to let these people know that they are not alone in their
hour of need", he said, adding that the enormity of the task meant
that the fund-raising and rehabilitation work would have to be
carried on for several months.
More than 21 million people have been affected across Pakistan by
flash floods, worst in the region's history, and more than 1,700
have died. The government has estimated more than $43 billion
would be needed to rehabilitate the displaced people and raise the
devastated infrastructure again.
(Awais Saleem can be
contacted at ians.pakistan@gmail.com)
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