KARACHI, June 10: The number of vegetarians in the city is on the rise. But while some people have opted for this lifestyle because of health reasons, most are forced to adopt vegetarianism because of the horrifying price-hike.
The ever-increasing prices of daily-use items have deprived many people of the things they love the most, such as meat and other foodstuffs. It is no longer astonishing to learn that people are reducing the quota of meat — both red and white — from their routine meals. This trend is on the rise particularly within the lower-income people, who form the largest segment of society.
The majority of Karachians have no fixed monthly salaries and are daily-wage earners. Most of them are not lucky enough to earn every day. The impact of the current wave of price-hikes is felt most in the localities of this socio-economic group. These people have revised their domestic budgets and a meat dish has almost disappeared from their menu.
Mohammad Ali, a roadside plumber who waits daily along with his colleagues for work at Burns Road, finds it too difficult to survive when prices refuse to stay stable and work is erratic.
“I am the father of four and it is even difficult for us to eat vegetables and pulses,” he says.
He lives in a rented house in Lyari and says that the increase in transport fares has added to his miseries.
“Earlier, I would normally ride a minibus to and from work. But now it is not possible and I travel on foot,” he says.
His two sons and two daughters were enrolled in a government school. But now his elder son – 12-years old – has left school and joined a local automobile workshop to supplement the family’s income.
“My wife also shares the burden and works as a domestic servant,” he adds.
The people earning low salaries have no different story to tell. Even the low-ranked government servants present a grim picture of the life they are living nowadays.
“I earn a little more than Rs3,000 and have two children to feed. What should I do? How can I survive and ensure an education for my children?” a dejected Abdur Rahim, a peon in a provincial government department asks.
He said the level of giving and taking bribes at these departments has also declined.
“Those who have the money have no need of us and the poor are not able to arrange bribes,” he says frankly.
And when a policeman makes similar complaints, one can only guess how the city’s law and order situation is going to improve.
“I live in a filthy quarter and my salary does not enable me to get my kids admitted to better schools. And now I am not able to provide my kids the food they need to remain healthy,” Mohammad Nawaz, a police constable, says.
