Heavy rains hit daily wage earners hard

KARACHI:

Heavy rains have severely impacted daily wage earners across the city, leaving thousands of labourers without work. With businesses disrupted and markets flooded, workers who depend on daily earnings to meet household expenses returned home empty-handed on Tuesday.

A report, compiled by The Express Tribune, highlighted the plight of the labour class amid the rain-induced disruptions. Patron-in-Chief of All Karachi Traders Alliance, Jamal Sehti, said business activities were badly affected in major markets including Liaquatabad, M.A. Jinnah Road, Saddar, Karimabad, Landhi, Korangi and the Old City area.

He added, while shops initially opened, waterlogging on main roads forced shopkeepers to close early as customers stayed away.

"Daily wage earners suffer the most in such conditions. Many labourers could not find work, and if rains continue, their financial woes will worsen," Sehti said, stressing the need for a support mechanism to help them during such crises.

Residents also voiced their concerns. Sehar Tariq from Punjab Colony, who sells household items, said, she could not work due to the rain and had to borrow money from neighbours to arrange meals for her family. "We earn between Rs500 to Rs1,500 a day. Missing even a single day's work pushes us into debt," she lamented.

Delivery riders were similarly affected. A food delivery worker — Adnan Ahmed — said, restaurants remained closed as there were no customers due to flooded streets as a result food delivery orders were drastically reduced, leaving them without income.

Haji Tasleem, who manages a group of construction workers, explained that most labourers in the city, hailing from the other parts of the country, are associated with the construction sector.