Asking for sun at midnight?

Governmental apathy is increasing in direct proportion to the common man’s suffering. It seems the business of schadenfreude is in full swing in Karachi. Schadenfreude means deriving pleasure from other’s misfortune. The state of civic infrastructure and of civic services is worsening by the day, and our politicians and those at the helm are engaged in an endless blame game. On the one hand, it is an endless game of verbosity and empty rhetoric and, on the other, people continue to suffer is increasing.

Gutter overflows are worsening, the number of craters and potholes on roads and streets are increasing, broken roads continue to cause serious accidents. Public transport is fast vanishing. Now there are a few ramshackle buses left on the road. Of course, a regional transport authority to inspect the condition of public transport does exist somewhere. The frequency of public transport keeps on decreasing. People don’t get water in their taps but they are regularly sent water bills every month. They pay the bills for fear of disconnection. Plenty of water is, however, available through tankers. This is only for those who can afford to pay the exorbitant charges of water tankers. Officially, there is a severe water shortage, but unofficially plenty of water is available. Of late, the electricity supply in the city has improved. But the ageing transmission system continues to claim human lives.

Unfeeling politicians seem to be in a state of ecstasy. And there is no end to the agony of the common people. What one can feel when one expects help coming, but help does not come. The other day a politician said the government would order an inquiry to ascertain the reasons for crumbling civic infrastructure in Karachi. Experience shows the process of inquiry is itself tediously long. Politicians continue to make promises and talk. After all, they are in the habit of talking long about nothing.

The people are not asking for the sun at midnight!

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2019.

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