This is one of the many attacks on Pakistani students studying abroad
HYDERABAD: It’s tragic to hear about a Pakistani student and petrol station attendant Zeeshan Akbar’s horrific murder in Australia by two teenage boys. Whether the killing was an act of racism is still unknown, however, the teenagers are suspected to have links with global militant groups, suggesting their possible motive behind the killing being racial bigotry.
This is one of the many attacks on Pakistani students studying abroad. Many youngsters, such as Akbar, study abroad for better opportunities and life. Only if Pakistan’s leaders hadn’t tarnished the image of the country through their bad governance, people like Akbar would have had a prosperous life in their own country. He wouldn’t have had to work at a petrol station abroad to support his education.
Leaders of the country are rich with money in foreign banks, while 38.8% of Pakistan’s population lives in extreme poverty. According to Pakistan’s new poverty index, four out of 10 Pakistanis live in multidimensional poverty. Politicians need to start addressing real issues of the country and ensure that rural-centric economic policies uplift people hailing from poor backgrounds. Good governance is Pakistan’s only hope.
Nasir Soomro
Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2017.
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