SOCIAL media campaigns, aggressive marketing strategies and hectic efforts to sell lawn brands have become a norm in recent years. While it is encouraging to see the single-minded devotion of these businesses to achieve their corporate vision, a small voice in my subconscious keeps asking me whether it is worth it.

We live in a country where millions of people cannot have two meals a day. Then there is – for us -- the perennial and usual political instability and social unrest.

We are a nation where the haves spend tens of thousands on a single meal while a poor family that has ten thousand rupees to run its kitchen for the entire month considers itself lucky.

I don’t feel good saying this, but after a couple of days, I will also be vying to grab my favourite dresses. However, I ask all Pakistani women why don’t they put their money to better use? They should reduce their lawn budget by half and donate the proceeds to charity or maybe educate a child.

While it is good to see the fashion industry flourishing, excess of anything is bad.

Pakistanis need to sort their priorities and realise that we have people out there who do not have a roof over their heads, or enough to feed and clothe their little ones.

Rabbia Nasir

Lahore

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2015

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