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Two minors died Friday in the Hazro area of Attock district after their mother threw them and a sibling into a 30-foot deep well before jumping in herself in an apparent bid at suicide.
Saeeda Bibi was reportedly agitated for not being able to buy her children new clothes for Eid.
People standing nearby who witnessed the incident immediately called for help, prompting rescuers to rush to the location.
However, by the time rescue teams arrived, four-year-old Muzammil and 14-month-old Muqaddis had already drowned. Saeeda Bibi and the third child were saved and shifted to a local hospital, where they are said to be in critical condition.
Police told DawnNews that the woman's husband, Fayyaz, is a labourer. Due to scarcity of available work, the couple would often be financially constrained.
"Saeeda Bibi — who is a resident of Lodhi — had been pestering her husband for money to buy their children new clothes for Eid, but due to their strained budget, the couple would regularly get into arguments," Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Fahim Khan told DawnNews.
Officials at Hazro Police Station said they would register a case of attempted suicide against the woman when she regains consciousness and is able to record her statement.
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On DawnNews
Comments (89) Closed
Jun 16, 2017 07:46pm
Please do not take this issue serious as i am a mature man of 24 years old and i do not have any interest to purchase new clothes on Eid..Be grateful for what you have.
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Jun 16, 2017 07:51pm
Very sad affair in Pakistan.. hope our govt realize that people of Pakistan needs jobs and not roads...
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Jun 16, 2017 07:54pm
Very sad, it is the state of general public.rich are accumulating and getting richer illegally with impunity and general public are finding it hard to make their both ends meet.
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Jun 16, 2017 07:58pm
@waleed fakhar you can never know what going in the head of a person and especially a mother who has aspiration to do something for her children. It is the feeling of being helpless and in the end losing hope altogether.
I pray that no one go through that feeling!!
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Jun 16, 2017 08:08pm
Sad side-effect and unintended consequences of living a society that glamorizes bling-bling, fashion-parades every week, fashionistas in a poor nation, to make the under-privileged feel even more insecure and deprived.
Materialism, combined with mentality of making quick and easy money - by any means what-so-ever has made the society less secure and haves and have-nots divided right down the middle. This is exactly what drives some to do desperate things when they cannot keep up the fat-cats always in the Shopping Mall or eating at fancy restaurants - while that poor woman or kid waits for them to come out and hand them a few pennies. That's how indifferent and segregated our society has become.
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Jun 16, 2017 08:28pm
@waleed fakhar If you do not want to buy clothes that is fine, but we are talking about children, small children are precious things and expect new clothes, they cannot understand that their parents are poor.
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Jun 16, 2017 08:35pm
Pakistan govt makes roads happily but have never thought on these type of situation. Poverty is major issue in pakistan until govt is not controlled it or it wouldn't want controlling it
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Jun 16, 2017 08:45pm
Terrible! Really tragic. Saeeda Bibi should have handled this new clothes for Eid issue differently. She appears to have suffered from mental health issues. Sad!
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Jun 16, 2017 08:49pm
Pakistan claims to be an "Islamic Republic" and if you speak to the population many will eloquently describe the benefits of fasting and prayer and the holier than thou mentality is visible on TV transmission. But the reality is that there is no reliable Zakat system to help such families. There is no accountability of the Zakat that is being collected. This is a very sad story.
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Jun 16, 2017 08:52pm
This is so sad that such incidents happen when we donot pay zakat to underpreviliged. I am happy that i pay zakat every year Alhamdulilah.
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Jun 16, 2017 09:25pm
"Saeeda Bibi — who is a resident of Lodhi — had been pestering her husband for money to buy their children new clothes for Eid, but due to their strained budget, the couple would regularly get into arguments,"
These are all religious rituals to buy new cloths,go to place of worship, organize feast, slaughter an animal,give gifts..Etc.
And these rituals do place a huge amount of pressure on low income families to meet demands / expectations.
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Jun 16, 2017 09:35pm
Sad incident, there should be a basic income to every citizen
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Jun 16, 2017 09:38pm
@shami -you area good person. May god bless you for your kindness.
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Jun 16, 2017 09:47pm
Unable to buy new clothes was just the tipping point. The actual reason as always is Garibi.
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Jun 16, 2017 09:48pm
How sad , so how you all who are keep electing these corrupt governments over and over. This is their Eid present to all poor citizen of Pakistan. Only common people can change the history of this country by not electing these thugs over and over and bring the prosperity to this country. RIP in peace little angels and my heart is bleeding for all of them. May God forgive her sins and give Jannah to their departed souls
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Jun 16, 2017 09:50pm
That says it all about Pakistan. Imran Khan should make this his campaign issue instead of chasing Nawaz Sharif.
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Jun 16, 2017 09:51pm
This so tragic and disheartening. There is such an imbalance in our society where our leaders have off shore properties and the poor people under their governance are committing suicide and killing their children because of poverty. Such a shame!!
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Jun 16, 2017 10:01pm
@waleed fakhar tell that to the children and some people only buy clothes on eid bcoz they are not priveleged like you and can't afford it like the rest of the people that go on shopping spree when its 50% off...
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Jun 16, 2017 10:01pm
This will keep on happening till people of pakistan keep on voting same corrupt governments of PML N & PPP again and again.
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Jun 16, 2017 10:03pm
It is a complicated issue. First of all, people must have strong desire and will to succeed and lift their family out of poverty. Remember government or generosity of good people can't reduce the poverty ; Second; people should donate Zakat honestly and Zakat should be distributed honestly. It is everybody's responsibility. Third; we should adopt the simple life style. Our politicians live in palaces, travel in bullet proof automobiles, and waste lots of food. We could save lots of money if we just adopt the simple life style.
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Jun 16, 2017 10:09pm
See the priorities, 7 billion on laptop scheme, hundreds of billions on metro and sad state of affairs in back yard.
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Jun 16, 2017 10:18pm
We are responsible for not alleviating poverty in our country. We are damned as social injustice is touching its peak !
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Jun 16, 2017 10:18pm
we should support to our bretheren to eradicate the poverty and deserving destitute people of our society.at the day of judgement we will ask the govenment did not support the poors.
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Jun 16, 2017 10:23pm
What a contrast! On one sides a Muslim country, on the other extravagance on display beyond imagination in every walk of some that media helps highlight and yet such helplessness, desperation and hopelessness that a 'mother' cannot clothe her children for Eid. How come we have engineered such a culture where life has lost its meanings and value it used to have. Where are we heading, any clue?
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Jun 16, 2017 10:24pm
Population control is the only way to reduce poverty. Imagine if the population of a country is controlled, there will be food security, quality education, plenty of jobs and much more. This is really a sad story but we should think about it, if she had just one kid she would have bought cloths for him/her.
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Jun 16, 2017 10:28pm
This is so sad. There should be some charities who should help out such families. It must be heartbreaking for a mom to deny her children basic items on a festival. Sad, sad, sad.
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Jun 16, 2017 10:37pm
@waleed fakhar yes off course Waleed but they are children. And when you have no budghet u will wish for these little things. It's human nature....
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Jun 16, 2017 10:42pm
@waleed fakhar i guess its the kids theu were worried about... and i am sure that when we were not mature, we also wanyed new stuff for eid
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Jun 16, 2017 10:46pm
And, on the same page here, we have stats of 'poor' politicians who own billions.
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Jun 16, 2017 10:53pm
Where's all the money going? Not a difficult question to answer. Corruption across the board....from top to bottom as well as the affluent class (which has amassed the enormous wealth largely by unethical means) are primarily responsible for the pathetic state of the common man in today's times. However, the common man must understand that the occasion of Eid could be celebrate even without new clothes or accessories since it is directly connected with our religious beliefs and practices rather than material show-off.
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Jun 16, 2017 11:04pm
@Sabeeh ahmad - please take a simple course in economics , both micro and macro globally recognised economic evidence points towards infrastructure such as roads lead to more jobs
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Jun 16, 2017 11:13pm
I will agree with Waleed Fakhar here. I am from upper middle class Alhamdulillah, yet I don't buy new clothes every year. It's not mandatory. As long as I am peacefully eating, drinking I am satisfied.
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Jun 16, 2017 11:14pm
I feel shame that so much poverty exists around us. Plz try to give someone happiness as much as you can. Humanity must not suffer so much and so low.
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Jun 16, 2017 11:17pm
@waleed fakhar for you and me it might not matter but everyone is not same. Everyone has his own way of thinking.
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Jun 16, 2017 11:17pm
@waleed fakhar you are single but when you get married and have children then may be you have different view.
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Jun 16, 2017 11:24pm
Really sad. Imagine the plight of the poor woman who had to go through this ordeal! Govt's cannot provide all. Hence at times this Zakaat is a nice concept in Islam. Let's all do it so that every child gets a life and gets an Eid. Let's spread some love, won't hurt!
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Jun 16, 2017 11:24pm
Why bring children in this world if you cannot afford to.
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Jun 16, 2017 11:33pm
Nothing can be sadder than this. God help her and grant peace to the little children...
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Jun 16, 2017 11:36pm
@waleed fakhar if 24 year old have no interest in buying new clothes on Eid. It show u hv no interest in religious festivity, the woman did really bad no doubt, but when kids ask mothers for clothes on Eid and they are unable to buy u can't imagine their feeling.
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Jun 16, 2017 11:50pm
So sad, that peer pressure is taking people to such extreems
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Jun 16, 2017 11:53pm
You won't die nor will suffocate if new clothes are not purchased during Eid. We need to pull ourselves out from social stereotypical emotional mindset.
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Jun 17, 2017 12:13am
@Sabeeh ahmad Roads are a vital infrastructure for industry, that in turn creates jobs. Your view is very shallow.
The deeper problem here is social trends, promoted on stupid TV shows, in which buying expensive stuff is the only real objective in life.
Alhamdulillah, I can afford, but I don't buy any special clothes for Eid.
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Jun 17, 2017 12:14am
Now who is held responsible for that? If I am President or PM of such country where this happened, I won't be able to sleep for several nights. Shame to see when politicians do corruption so their kids could sleep well in foreign countries and it's countrymen commit suicides and put their loved ones to sleep just because they cannot afford cloths for Eid? HUH shame on all of us also not taking care of our neighbors.
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Jun 17, 2017 12:23am
@shami Please start your zakat to your surroundings and see if someone need it.
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Jun 17, 2017 12:27am
I wanted to eat biryani today but my wife was unable to cook it, but i never contemplated killing my kids and myself over it. Dont get me wrong, i am heart broken at this tragedy, but the real problem with this story is not poverty but mental health, Pakistan is midst of massive mental health crisis and no one is paying attention. 1 in 10 here can be classified clinically as mentally disturb.
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Jun 17, 2017 12:33am
How can our leaders hold their head high?
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Jun 17, 2017 12:38am
@waleed fakhar not having interest and not being able are two very different things.Still being grateful bit is very true.
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Jun 17, 2017 12:39am
And still govt says Pakistan is progressing and will be member of G4 and what not ...
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Jun 17, 2017 01:04am
Pakistanis living in US are always looking for right place to send their zakat. Unfortunately, it goes to big organizations and they should organize ways to distribute new Eid clothing. I wondered why she could not receive the help!
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Jun 17, 2017 01:27am
Why do such people produce children when they cannot afford them. Need a one child policy to get out if this poverty trap.
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Jun 17, 2017 01:28am
Poverty is bad but dont see a reason why you cannot have eid without new clothes. Also, this is all of us job to help people around us who has no money.
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Jun 17, 2017 01:28am
We should stop lavish eid spendings till we become a developed and rich country.
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Jun 17, 2017 01:32am
Not really. Killing for Eid clothes. Give me break. Some other deeper cause...
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Jun 17, 2017 01:43am
Tv media and relatives friends and family living in fake happy world showing off material things are bound to have this effect.
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Jun 17, 2017 01:45am
This incident proves how much frustration is amongst people and it has reached insanity stage . Government and NGOs are to take notice of such events and to prepare awareness sessions amongst people . I agree with Waleed comments but on the same time , it is unfortunate that our society is ignorant about our values . New clothes and giving new notes EID has been casted as a religious activity whereas it has NO relevances to the preaching of our beautiful religion
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Jun 17, 2017 01:46am
This incident is a result of illiteracy. Government should take measures to increase literacy and make people aware of family planning. People should be told how many children they should have and they should be told the benefits of a planned family. Planned families consume less resources and planned families have a happy life.
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Jun 17, 2017 01:50am
thought i am Muslim i never bought new cloth for EID if we care that what other people thinks hen obviously we become psycho patient so don't care what other people doing or thinking,
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Jun 17, 2017 01:50am
The women and her children gone now let us enjoy our Eid dressed up with thousands and thousands rupees clothes and shoes and jewelleries all new. Who cares that innocent souls may be some more wud be planning..... don't care will forget in a while....
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Jun 17, 2017 01:57am
So much of wealth around, roads, buildings, cars, flights , gold. Still so much poverty, probably we humans are not humane anymore. Accumulate and accumulate enough for many generations to come. Still greedy leaders and rulers insensitive to suffering of poor.
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Jun 17, 2017 02:11am
I think she may have some mental issues. I know about the suffering of the poor, but a mother's bond with and love for her child(ren) is unimpeachable and would not allow hurting them let alone take their lives, unless it's diluted with derangement of the mind. There are women who abandon children out of desperation, instead of killing them, after all.
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Jun 17, 2017 02:13am
Why isn't a mechanism being put in place,Pakistan is poor no doubt about it but these things can be prevented if the society provides an avenue there are very rich Pakistani people who have no problem buying 4 pair of cloths,very sad from Muslim country
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Jun 17, 2017 02:38am
Muslim Ummah how benevolent, caring and chariable
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Jun 17, 2017 02:46am
@waleed fakhar
She didnt wanted clothes for herself... it was about her kids. Its depressing when your child asks you for some geniune thing and your are unable for get it !!
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Jun 17, 2017 02:48am
@Hasnain
Strongly agree with your views. Only parents know how it feels...
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Jun 17, 2017 02:48am
This news article should be read by those who blindly believe that CPEC has brought 50000 jobs so far.
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Jun 17, 2017 02:53am
Her neighbour will be fasting and preparing for Haj to get blessing???
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Jun 17, 2017 03:39am
Heart break and full of paint and sorrow. There should be a team who identify those are less privileged and get help from west
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Jun 17, 2017 03:49am
In this country, living with decipline and honesty is a crime now. The cost of living is too high now due to evrry type of money circulation in this country is attached with corruption. Whoever gets an edge over another , becomes an arrogant and selfish don.
Each and every bznz dealing is based on corruption. Transportation fares are unfair, hospitals, fake information based consumer products etc all. All public dealing offices are based on corruption. Might is right in this country.
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Jun 17, 2017 03:51am
I hope Nawaz Sharif , Imran Khan and Zardari will read this news.
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Jun 17, 2017 03:57am
@waleed fakhar But I hope you are financially sound to buy it anytime, its the incapability of doing something that make someone do this, may be issue is about food or health and not about new clothes. Zakaat is the solution for this.
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Jun 17, 2017 04:01am
please message to those people who prefer suicide then clothes atleast ask for help someone.life is muchhh precious then clothes little kids are angels...dnt try to kill them for poverty.in Ramazan that sick people do this.. i can't believe this.. i wish she asked me..
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Jun 17, 2017 04:07am
Well u happen to be poor but still want kids. Im sorry u r adult enough to know the consequences
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Jun 17, 2017 04:46am
Nawaz govt what you expect?
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Jun 17, 2017 05:20am
A humble question to sabeeh Ahmed if you go to city for job you have to go by road not by air road is the basic necessity of human being...
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Jun 17, 2017 05:58am
poor in billionaire Sharif's land who sucked blood of such people and syphoned money abroad!
utter shame and failure of government
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Jun 17, 2017 06:03am
PM should take notice and make a committee to ensure justice.
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Jun 17, 2017 07:01am
@Sabeeh ahmad roads lead to jobs if people cant come easy in and out you can't do business because the cost of delivering products goes high.
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Jun 17, 2017 07:04am
I will appreciate if you can tell me how I can help Saeeda Bibi.
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Jun 17, 2017 08:24am
We will not be judged by our prayers but our deeds to help the poor.
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Jun 17, 2017 08:33am
Population control is the answer.
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Jun 17, 2017 11:27am
Government need to support her
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Jun 17, 2017 11:30am
Responsibility lies on government. Why we dont have social securities. Even Zakat deducted from the banks are not distributed properly among the poor.
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Jun 17, 2017 01:28pm
@waleed fakhar That is because you have those clothes and do not feel the need to buy them. Don't compare yourself to those people. They are in need and should be helped not ignored.
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Jun 17, 2017 01:56pm
@waleed fakhar I feel sorry for you. You have not crossed from this situation thats why this issue is not serious for you. When you will cross you will come to know yourself.
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Jun 17, 2017 03:04pm
There is a lot of poorest people in pak especially in punjab areas, sindh and in some others places but i would say to this rubbish gov that please distribute ramadan packages among poor families only.
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Jun 17, 2017 03:25pm
@salman if the politicians have not the luxurious life styles which they didn't deserve, it is their first most duty to provide the basic needs of life to the people of pakistan. They should keep in mind they will be questioned about the people whome they rule..
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Jun 17, 2017 04:15pm
Although it is true that we should be thankful for what we have, the goverment is also to blame for the high prices. While the elite and top middle class of Pakistan can easily get whatever they want, the needs, let alone the wants, of the common man are too expensive for him to fulfill. We need to raise voice against these prices just like the fruit boycott last days.
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Jun 18, 2017 01:00am
very sad news and it is the matter of peak level poverty where people can not afford to buy new clothes for their children , but it is the prime responsibility of the state to provide appropriate food , clothing and shelter to their citizen where are the ruler of the time?
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Jun 18, 2017 06:01am
Its very tragic when people are so angry and helpless that they are pushed to suicide..There must be other factors involved too..Its also a fact that we have increasing number of people falling below poverty line , due to unjust distribution of resources , corruptiin and big families among the poorest..A labourer or daily wage earner tends to have five or more children..Total failure of reproductive health counselling..Secondly its difficult to reach the needy even if you want to..Msny people dustribute food clothing and cash during Ramadhan and the year round to help out the needy families..Some way is needed to connect the needy with the plentiful
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