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Helping the poor

2023-01-18
PAKISTAN faces one of the worst financial crises these days. Inflation and price hike have had a deeply adverse impact on the segment of society that survives on a fixed income; the salaried class. On top of it, the energy crisis during the harshest winter season has added to the people`s sufferings.

The sharp increase in prices related to used imported clothes has hit the poor rather hard. The second-hand items for the winter season are now expensive and out of the reach of millions.

In these hard times, businessmen and the financial elite of the country need to step up. Real estate giants, in particular, should take up the activity as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR). They should launch campaigns and activities to alleviate the sufferings of the masses.

Interested companies may pool in for winter clothing items. Or they can even lend a helping hand to the importers of second-hand clothes and other items. It will be a small effort because Pakistan is a huge country of 220 million people, but it can still alleviate the misery of a lot of people.

Pakistan`s business community has always played an active role in relief activities during crises and disasters, and the current situation warrants another intervention.

It can once again make the difference by extending a helping hand to many as it will at least make this winter a little less harsh for the poor, especially the homeless souls who spend their dark, cold nights under the skies.

Waqas Asmat Islamabad