Pakistan: Muslim, Christian Colonies--Two slums scar on the face of Capital
By Salman Raza
Two such slums (kachi abadis) are located near Zero Point in sector G-7/1 -- one inhabited by Muslims mainly from the NWFP while Christian occupy the second.
Zero Point situated just at the entrance of the capital city as indicated by its name is also known for having offices both public and private.
A large number of people coming to Zero Point mainly belong to working class, who often pay little heed to the surrounding environment as inhabitants of these two kachi abadis are different from each other in terms of education, culture, customs, habits, likes and dislikes.
The difference of education ratio between these two is to be specially mentioned. Literacy rate as well as trend of sending children to schools in Christians are relatively high than those living in their neighborhood.
Muslim colony and Christian colony linking with Sitara market symbolize the lack of attention of authorities which pay only lip service to resolve their problems. Many assurances have been held out on different occasions including elections, but nothing has so far been done on the ground. The miseries continue to challenge the lives of the people.
Muslim colony has more than 550-600 corrugated-iron houses which consist of one or two rooms with cows and chickens wandering around. Roofs of the houses are built with the layers of iron sheets and hard boards stuck with mud. The residents of slum have no other alternate to protect themselves from the harshness of either summer or winter.
“We are deprived of the basic necessities of life yet always remain
thankful to the grace of God Almighty who provides us ample opportunity to make
both ends meet here in the Capital, the most expensive city in the country”, said
a contented man while taking a long puff of cigarette.
Ironically a home of two rooms without corridor and courtyard providing space to four families to dwell is indeed a miracle.
A family of four brothers: Baseer Khan, a Line-Man in PTCL with 3 children and a wife; Lagber Khan, a cook in PAF with four children; Taj Muhammad Khan a dispenser with 4 children; and Ashraf who is a tailor master having 4 children live in the house.
“Our unity is strong, except minor squabbles among children we live peacefully and amicably” said Baseer Khan. He said they are complacent about what they are getting, and has almost lost hopes of achieving civic amenities of life supposed to be provided by CDA.
However, he said desperately that during rainy season all the dwellers of slum area try to seek protection out of their homes because the roof or wall might fall and harm them.
One of the dweller said they always pined hopes the candidates contesting the election who give solemn pledge to resolve their problems by granting the basic necessities of life. He said there is need for provision of clean water and sewerage system.
“After they (candidates) were elected we vigorously pursued them for
our problems but they gave no attention to our pleas with an excuse that they had
not yet been settled in the government”. he remarked.
One of the vital issue of the people of slum area linked closely to their survival is rearing of animals like sheep and goats which is strictly prohibited by CDA.
“ CDA employees arrive and take away our animals”, said Kabeer Ahmad regretfully. He said they rear animals just to produce diary products which are too expensive to afford, but essential to livelihood.
A foreign researcher, Mike Davis says “exponential growth of slums is no accident but is the result of a perfect storm of corrupt leadership, institutional failure, and IMF- imposed Structural Adjustment Programs leading to a massive transfer of wealth from poor to rich.”
Lying at just a few hundreds yards to Muslim Colony towards Sitara Market, there comes the” Christian Colony” that consists of more then 435 houses (official count) with the residents belonging to Shakargarh, Narowwall, Sialkot, Gujranwalla, Lahore and its suburbs area.
Arif Masih of Narowwall is a cleaner in foreign mission. He is working there for the last 19 years. He has five children. The eldest son is a student of B-Com, two daughters are in F.A, one has taken exam of Matriculation and the younger one is in eighth class.
“We have a dispensary which is run by through Church otherwise the entire area is deprived of health facilities” adding “ two, three dispensers work in the dispensary”.
The distinguished feature of a Christian Colony is a desire to acquire
education. In every home of Christian Colony at least one soul is busy in getting
education.
Irshad, wife of Arif Maseeh feels happy to mention that they are provided with gas, electricity and water.
When asked whether they had legally obtained electricity, water and gas she was stunned and said she did not know. It was, however revealed that 50 percent electricity had illegal connections.
“This is no fault at our end as whenever we apply for connection we are asked that your houses are not authorized” Arif Masih said.
Muhammad Mansha, a field officer of Capital of the CDA says that not a single allotment letter to any home among 435 houses has been given in Christian colony.
“Rather we have given application form for ownership right now but this facility is restricted to 20 percent of those illegally dwelling in the slum “ he said.
Mansha also said that they have written to Wapda not to provide them metres of electricity until they get NOC from CDA.
Similarly, in the reference of Muslim Colony, he said CDA have given them opportunity to get plots in “Model Urban Shelter Project Farash” at Lahtrar road.
But he regretfully said 30 percent people of the colony have sold their plots and refused to leave the slum area.
Source: http://www.app.com
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-environment/pakistan-muslim,-christian-colonies-two/d/154