High and dry : Deserted beaches leave poor vendors jobless

Sindh govt has imposed Section 144 in Karachi to ban gathering of four or more people

KARACHI: After spreading all across Karachi, Covid-19 has now made its way to several non-commercial areas of the city, including remote neighbourhoods situated along the coast, leaving the beaches completely deserted because of the imposition of Section 144 in the city for two months.

According to sources, while all recreational places and amusement parks in the city had to be shut down to contain the virus from spreading, locking down the coastal strip - which stretches to hundreds of miles - was not possible. As a result, the provincial government decided to ban the gathering of four or more people in one place at a time under the said law.

In keeping with the growing number of coronavirus positive cases in the city, many citizens sighed a breath of relief to see the government implementing strict measures. For others, however, the lockdown has turned out to be a nightmare.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Ali, who offers camel rides to visitors at the beach, said that he has been completely out of business for the past three weeks.

“Earlier, some people were still coming to the beach because June is the most popular picnic time for families,” he said. “But because of the disease and the strict law, they have stopped coming here. I could not sell a single ride in the past 15 days.”

PHOTO: EXPRESS

Ali said he has been associated with the profession for the past many years but has never witnessed anything like this ever before.

“The fear of the disease has changed people’s mindsets. Earlier, they never used to be scared of anything and would continue to visit the beach despite high tides. Every year, many people would even lose their lives because of drowning, but nothing could stop them,” he said.

“Many poor vendors, camel and horse owners have become disheartened and have left the city as there is no income. I don’t even have the money to feed my camel,” he said.

As against the rich who have various activities to entertain themselves, beaches are free so people from all socioeconomic backgrounds used to come here to have fun, escape from load-shedding, and relax.

“Last year, almost all the beaches of the city, including the Hawkes Bay, Sea View, Paradise Point and Mubarak Village, were overcrowded with adults and children who visited to beat the summer heat. Some people would even come from faraway areas of Sindh and other parts of Pakistan enjoy the sea. But not anymore!” said Ali.

Majid, a businessman who owns several huts across different beaches in Karachi, said that people used to book the huts two months in advance so that they could come and stay here with their families in June and July.

“Most of our revenue was generated in June and July but the business is almost nil this year. We have not received a single booking this year,” he lamented.

A vendor who used to sell fried food items at Hawkes Bay beach said that he was now having a hard time feeding himself and his family because no one is visiting the beaches.

“Visiting the beach was not only a source of entertainment for many people in Karachi but it also provided a means of living to poor people like me. I hope the situation normalises soon otherwise my family will starve to death,” he said.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

Under Section 144, police personnel have been deployed at various beaches and if anyone is seen breaking the law, they are immediately sent home.

“The police are surprisingly very strict these days,” Majid said. “No influential connections or bribes are working. My business has suffered but it is good to see that the authorities are acting responsibly.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2020.