Eat cake, if no bread!

On the one hand, the government is constantly asking people to stay at home to avoid contracting the coronavirus and, on the other, electricity and water have not been restored to buildings and houses in the vicinity of the building that collapsed in the Lyari neighbourhood of Karachi around two weeks ago. Nor have those rendered homeless following the collapse of the five-storey building been provided alternative accommodation. Some of the residents say they had been living in the building for as long as 26 years and now they have been left with no roof over their heads, and the authorities have left them to their own devices. In such a situation, how can they protect themselves from the coronavirus?

Now another 15 buildings in the locality have been declared unsafe and residents have been told to vacate them. A government official, however, says only six buildings have been declared unsafe. Residents claim many buildings in the area are weak and vulnerable to collapse. Residents of the collapsed building say so far the government has not given any compensation either to them and those living close to the collapsed building. Nor do they hope to be paid any compensation if past experience is anything to go by. An official says the Sindh government will provide all possible assistance in reconstructing the building. He too admits that the provincial government has not announced any compensation as yet.

Residents have demanded of the government to pay attention to their plight and do the needful. They call for action against the culprits and deterrent punishment to them to prevent tragedies like building collapse. They say unauthorised constructions are still going on. People living near the collapsed building have been without water and power when heat is at its peak. In contrast to this, ministers and officials are being seen in assemblies wearing suit and tie in this hot weather. This shows the frigid unconcern the privileged classes have for the common people.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2020.

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