
Image Credit: Omar Ul Haq http://omarulhaq.wordpress.com
Yesterday, I visited an IDP resource center run by a local non-government organization in Rawalpindi. There, I met several Swati women and children who were still living with host families. In Pakistan, many of the people displaced from the offensive have already returned home, but some remain, wary of the tenuous security situation up north. Waqar, a man displaced from his home in Buner and who acted as a translator for me [since I don’t speak Pashto], explained to me that many of these women have stayed behind, despite living in poor conditions and having little or no money, because they constantly fear for their safety while at home. At least here, he told me, they don’t have to worry about a militant [or even a soldier], banging on their door late at night.
As a Pakistani woman from a progressive, moderate family, my life is relatively worry-free [mash’Allah]. And yet, 45 minutes away in a small skill-building center in Pirwadhai, women my age and older live such drastically different lives. One mother told me her daughter couldn’t attend school for nearly two years because of the Taliban. Another said they didn’t have enough money to pay their electricity bill, let alone come up with rent for her and her ten family members living in cramped quarters.
It is easy to forget that we are all Pakistan. A politician from an affluent family, a child selling flowers on the street, a prominent fashion designer, a soldier fighting in an ongoing military offensive, a young woman displaced in her own country. Our lives exist as different planets, orbiting around one another without ever touching. We are too often caught up in our differences rather than in what makes us all the same.
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the father of our country, said on August 15, 1947:
The creation of the new State has placed a tremendous responsibility on the citizens of Pakistan. It gives them an opportunity to demonstrate to the world how can a nation, containing many elements, live in peace and amity and work for the betterment of all its citizens, irrespective of caste or creed. Our object should be peace within and peace without.
August 14th, Pakistan’s Independence Day, should be a time to reflect on such a statement – to consider our mistakes and what still unites us as a nation. In the 62 years since Pakistan’s birth, we have been torn apart by violence, civil strife, political turmoil and intolerance. And yet, in the face of such adversity, we continue to be resilient. Sitting across from those women yesterday, their courage brought tears to my eyes. Their story taught me how important it is to reach outside one’s comfort zone to help fellow citizens in need, regardless of their caste or creed. At the end of the day, we must remember that we are all Pakistan. Hum ek hain, [“We are one.”].
[…] but some remain, wary of the tenuous security situation up north. […] Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan affluent family, allah, august 15, buner, cramped quarters, different lives, electricity bill, […]
Happy Pakistan Day everyone!! [above the national anthem, as performed by Junoon]
[…] Post by Kalsoom from CHUP (https://changinguppakistan.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/hum-ek-hain-pakistan/) […]
this sounds like a great NGO. What kind of skills do they teach, exactly?
Rabia,
The name of the NGO is Poda – http://www.poda.org.pk/ and the focus of their work is the livelihood skill-building and empowerment of rural women in Pakistan. They teach them to make bags, those papier mache ornaments, sewing etc. They recently got involved in teaching similar skills to the IDP women living with host families in Pirwadhai, and also conducted classes, teaching them about health, child rearing, etc. as well. I met them on a work visit, since an initiative I was originally looking to do dealt with IDP women. They do amazing work 🙂
[…] Lakhani at Changing Up Pakistan also talked about the spirit of the IDP, narrating her meeting with the IDP families living in Islamabad and […]
[…] Hum Ek Hain, Pakistan August 17th, 2009 // Post by Kalsoom from CHUP (https://changinguppakistan.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/hum-ek-hain-pakistan/) […]
I love me some Pakistan. Whatever it is, it’s ours and we’re first-class citizens in it.
And I totally agree that those of us who are fortunate need to help those less fortunate. That’s what brings out the Pakistaniat in us.
PS: Great seeing you, Kals. Thank you. Come again.
Dear Kalsoom,
As per your answer to Rabia about the NGO “Poda” that it is specially designed for the empowerment of women, yes every Pakistani women needs it. But my request is that this NGO must be approaching all the women everywhere in Paksitan. It is good that you visit the IDP women, but I wanna inform you that there were IDP women of Dera Bugti but no one visited them, offcourse they were in need of such NGOs and still they need such skillbuildings and other things. Even in all areas of Balochistan the women they need it. I hope that you will focus on the mentioned areas. Thanks.
Balach,
As much as I would have loved to have visited the IDP women “everywhere,” I did what I could do in my own capacity, as does Poda, as does every other organization striving to help people in need. I would definitely like to try to reach out to everyone, and next time would be happy to meet women anywhere else. Poda actually works with rural women throughout Pakistan and I know they are going to continue their IDP activities up in Buner – but I know as an NGO, they may not have the funds to address every single woman in need. It is good then, that there are a number of NGOs like Poda trying to do their part.
[…] Lakhani at Changing Up Pakistan also talked about the spirit of the IDP, narrating her meeting with the IDP families living in Islamabad and […]
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Thanks