It is said that slavery has come to an end in this day and age, but nothing can be further from the truth. The large feudal lords of Sindh and Punjab are above the law in every sense. All the people working on their farms are slaves or serfs. Slavery also exists amongst the tribes, tribesmen are nothing more than slaves of their chiefs, they are not entitled to any pay for their services.
What has become a threat to their way of life is industrialisation. The employment of people and paying them salaries on a monthly basis. But it will take a very long time when slavery will ever end. All these slaves have forfeited every bit of their dignity for the singular purpose of survival. Those who can escape to the city, mainly Karachi where the majority of the factories are located do so. But it takes a tremendous amount of courage to do so.
The concept of industrialisation and job creation is still an alien one. The existing system can never bring about true democracy when most of the people are just slaves. They consider themselves lucky to have two square meals a day and some sorry excuse for shelter.
A term often used in the local media is the existence of ghost schools. Schools which exist only on offical files but do not exist in reality. Where school buildings have been built the influentials of the area have converted them into stables or warehouses. Children are sent packing- a literate and educate community would be in a positiion to demand their rights, something which no who is in power is not prepared to give.
It is said that illiteracy and povery are the two things which plague our country. It is something which has been artificial. There is really no reason for poverty to exist. The feudal lords in particular are exempt from paying income tax or any kind of tax. For them it is perfect system. They do not want anything to change. But it is only a matter of time, when the new generation will find more about the world around them and will break the endless cycle of oppression. Slavery has to be brought to an end - but no easy solution exists at the moment. Extreme poverty is driving many to accept becoming serfs, not realising that the poverty has been deliberately created.
In keeping with feudal tradition, the industrialists are resorting to the same tactics as the feudal lords, underpaying their workers or not paying them at all. This is happening because the military which is running the affair of the country is terrified of the prospect of true democracy emerging, once it does the people will have a say in how the country ought to be run. Things may change or it could remain the same forever.
What has become a threat to their way of life is industrialisation. The employment of people and paying them salaries on a monthly basis. But it will take a very long time when slavery will ever end. All these slaves have forfeited every bit of their dignity for the singular purpose of survival. Those who can escape to the city, mainly Karachi where the majority of the factories are located do so. But it takes a tremendous amount of courage to do so.
The concept of industrialisation and job creation is still an alien one. The existing system can never bring about true democracy when most of the people are just slaves. They consider themselves lucky to have two square meals a day and some sorry excuse for shelter.
A term often used in the local media is the existence of ghost schools. Schools which exist only on offical files but do not exist in reality. Where school buildings have been built the influentials of the area have converted them into stables or warehouses. Children are sent packing- a literate and educate community would be in a positiion to demand their rights, something which no who is in power is not prepared to give.
It is said that illiteracy and povery are the two things which plague our country. It is something which has been artificial. There is really no reason for poverty to exist. The feudal lords in particular are exempt from paying income tax or any kind of tax. For them it is perfect system. They do not want anything to change. But it is only a matter of time, when the new generation will find more about the world around them and will break the endless cycle of oppression. Slavery has to be brought to an end - but no easy solution exists at the moment. Extreme poverty is driving many to accept becoming serfs, not realising that the poverty has been deliberately created.
In keeping with feudal tradition, the industrialists are resorting to the same tactics as the feudal lords, underpaying their workers or not paying them at all. This is happening because the military which is running the affair of the country is terrified of the prospect of true democracy emerging, once it does the people will have a say in how the country ought to be run. Things may change or it could remain the same forever.
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