On Eid: People who work to let others celebrate

Published July 29, 2014
Edhi Foundation’s emergency staff have no issues about having to work on Eid day. — Photo by White Star
Edhi Foundation’s emergency staff have no issues about having to work on Eid day. — Photo by White Star

KARACHI: “We are all here on Eid day,” said Edhi Foundation spokesman Anwar Kazmi. “My family doesn’t mind my missing spending Eid with them. They are used to it since I’ve always been here working on the day for the past 40 years now,” he added. “All our emergency personnel, including the ambulance drivers, telephone and SMS service operators, are around. And no one really minds,” he said.

“The thing is our emergency staff mostly comprises young men who are still single so no one in their homes has any problem with their working on Eid. The ones married, well the second day of Eid can switch their duties with a volunteer.”

Meanwhile, at the Fire Headquarters near the Civil Hospital Karachi, Mazhar Rafiq, the station officer, also said that everyone would be on duty on Eid day. “It’s the nature of our job. We can’t afford to take it easy ever during our 12-hour shifts,” he said.

“But, of course, those who are working here are lucky in this way that our staff quarters are right here. So the fire-fighters can spend time at home and quickly come here to where the fire tenders are parked in case of an emergency call.”

At Ahmed Medical Store near Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Syed Khalil said that no one on the staff had any issues with coming to work on Eid day. “We are chemists and medicines can be needed at any time. How then can we think about closing shop and celebrating Eid? No, like any other regular day, the pharmacy will remain open from 7am to 2am on Eid,” he said.

Usama Qureshi, chief of staff to the CEO and head of marketing at K-Electric, said that their job at the power company was 24/7 so he could not take it off on Eid day, too. “Of course, my better half isn’t too happy about it but I reason with her that if we ignore our work at the KE anything can happen with the city’s power supply and then I’ll have to stay back at work for longer,” he laughed.

Mohammad Akbar Niazi, DSP-Admin, driving licence and training branch, Clifton, said when his family were upset if his duty fell on Eid, he explained to them that a job was a job. “I work for the traffic police department. If my family feel bad on my not being able to spend Eid day with them, I remind them that I have to work to earn my livelihood. And this is what I do. Usually they understand.

“Still, there is also a way out like switching duties with a volunteer. We have several Christians within the force, too, who are often willing to switch duties with us. And then on Christmas or Easter we do the same for them,” he said.

“Emergency is emergency. Who will carry out the post-mortems if I go celebrate Eid,” said Akhtar Ali, mortuary attendant at the Civil Hospital. “I have been working here for 31 years and each Eid has seen me spend some time at work. If it is a morning or afternoon duty then I’m gone from home for six hours and if I have night duty on the day, then it is 12 hours.

“Really, the families of emergency workers need to understand the nature of our jobs. The sooner they understand this and accept it, the better it is for them. Or else they will be miserable and make us miserable, too. Eid is about sharing happiness with others. This is our way of celebrating Eid by working for humanity and making others comfortable,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2014

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