N this age of economic hardship, where many find it difficult to make ends meet, a helping hand is always welcome. But while Pakistanis, despite having many flaws, are known for their charity one figure suggests this country`s citizens give over Rs200bn to charities annually there are definite ways in which our method of giving can be improved. Over the years, due to widespread poverty, there has been a visible increase in the distribution of ration packs and other household essentials for the needy. This activity picks up pace in or just before the month of Ramazan, when people`s urge to give is even greater. However, unless managed smoothly, such exercises can easily go awry, as was observed in Karachi on Sunday. At least six people fell unconscious at a charity bazaar in the metropolis that had been organised by the Jafaria Disaster Cell, a philanthropic outfit. Held at the city`s Expo Centre, a stampede ensued when a staggering 200,000 people showed up to pick up free rations and household items.

It is fortunate that no fatalities occurred at the event; previous such exercises have seen deadly tragedies. Some 20 individuals died in a stampede in 2009 when rations were being distributed in Khori Garden, an area located in Karachi`s congested old city, while in 2013, two women lost their lives during a melee in the city`s Gulshani-Iqbal locality during a similar charity event. While the intention to provide a helping hand to the needy is indeed noble, unless such affairs are properly managed, with effective crowd control, tragedy may result. Perhaps an alternative to the above methods could be for philanthropists individuals as well as organisations to survey low-income neighbourhoods and have rations and other essentials delivered to the doorstep of deserving families. This would allow for individuals to be helped in a dignified manner, as well as eliminating the chances of stampedes and disorder that can occur when large numbers of people gather in confined spaces to collect charity goods.