KARACHI:
A few days ago, I returned to my village Thari Mirwah from Karachi. To my surprise, much of the village is still inundated with floodwater. I visited different mobile communication shops to complete the biometric verification for my sim. However, all the retailers complained of poor network connection due to which they could not complete my verification. Network disruptions have not only affected the business of mobile shops but further added to the miseries of the village’s residents.
Most people lost their homes and belongings in the floods and are forced to live under open skies. The provincial and district authorities have yet to provide any sort of help or support. Earlier residents were coordinating with each other through their phones to drain out water, rescue people, and provide each other with necessary items. Now with network disruptions, people are struggling to contact their families, relatives, and others to seek help within the village and outside.
Due to the unfortunate situation, most youngsters in the village have lost all hope for the future. They already had limited opportunities to improve their prospects and now they have been plunged into the stone ages. Most children will never return to school and will be compelled to work to make ends meet. I request the relevant authorities to extend relief support to the village and drain out the water. Cellular companies should also work on restoring the networks to bring some normalcy back to people’s lives and help them connect with their loved ones.
Ayaz Ali Bhatti
Thari Mirwah
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2022.
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