‘TIME to get freedom from slavery’ is the title of a campaign launched by the human rights webpage AVAAZ.org that is meant to ask the Pakistan government to prevail upon Qatar to improve working and living conditions of Pakistani contractual workers.

It is unfortunate that some of these workers have already died under the cruel sun, unprotected in more than 46 Celsius heat and from unattended health problems and other reasons.

About 4,000 Pakistanis, Indians and Bangladeshis working in cruel conditions have fallen victim to official neglect and died, with their passports withheld by employers and their bodies waiting.

There is a need for the Pakistan government to take up this problem with Qatar and fight for the lives and interests of Pakistanis trapped there.

Ali Ashraf Khan

Karachi

Published in Dawn March 2nd , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play