Pakistan Defence
What do people say?
KARACHI: Salauddin, a 25-year-old Bangladeshi, came to Karachi in 2004, so he could support his six family members in his home country.
He came on a work permit to sell burgers, when the value of Pakistani currency was much higher compared to Bangladesh. After working for a year, in 2005 Salauddin decided to open a burger-stall in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. His business thrived, and he was able to send money back home until everything suddenly took a 180-degree turn for him in 2007. Salauddin witnessed both, the tenure of a dictator and a democratic government in Pakistan.
According to him, the dictator tenure in Pakistan was much better compared to the democratic one. During Musharraf's tenure, he used to buy all the ingredients needed to make a burger for only Rs500 a day; however currently, he is buying the same for Rs3,000 to Rs3,200 per day.
The price of a burger was Rs8 in 2005 that has now changed to Rs25, said Salauddin. Nonetheless, profits have decreased substantially, if five years ago he earned Rs800 a day excluding expenses, now he earns merely Rs400 to Rs500 a day.
It is pertinent to mention here, that when Salauddin came to Pakistan, the rupee value was higher than the Bangladeshi taka (Tk). Up till 2008 the burger-vendor used to send home at least Rs10,000 a month, that turned into Tk13,000 in Bangladesh - now, due to the devalued Pakistan rupee, his family receives only Tk7,000 on the same amount.
Keeping in mind the growing inflation and very little profit, the vendor had decided to go back to his homeland. However, even that seems to be impossible for him at the moment, since he is unable to save any amount to buy a ticket to Bangladesh.
"My family is pressurising me now to go back, as there is nothing beneficial except loss by continuing to live here. But I cannot even do that, because I am unable to save Rs30,000 which is the price of a one-way ticket to my home country," related Salauddin sadly.
Salauddin is not the only person favouring dictatorship; there are many others who have been arguing against the elected government on social and electronic media.
A graduate of the University of Karachi, Sheikh Azam, 24, while talking to Daily Times, said, "It is true that Pakistan has been ruled by dictators most of the time, but it is also a fact that in every democratic government, the situation becomes worse than ever before."
During the previous dictatorial regime, wheat flour cost Rs 15 per kilogramme, but now it is Rs 42 per kilogramme, he said, adding, "Price of wheat was increased 185 percent by the so-called 'democratic government', just to benefit a few landlords, who already enjoy huge amounts of subsidy and do not pay tax despite earning billions through agri-products."
Zubar Ali, a fresh graduate from Bahria University, commented that almost five years ago he heard the slogan 'Democracy is the best Revenge'.
"I want to ask from whom did the so-called democratic stake holders take their revenge, except the public?" said Ali who has been jobless for more then a year.
As the democratically elected government completes its tenure for the first time in the history of Pakistan, people seem to be confused between the advantages and disadvantages of a democratic system versus dictatorship.
In this regard, talking to Daily Times, Director Pakistan Study Centre Dr Syed Jaffar commented that corruption is a major cause behind this confusion, and both civilian and in dictatorial governments have been corrupt. It is history that people termed good leader to previous one while doing compression with existing one.
"I am not supporting the present government of President Asif Ali Zaradi, but supporting democracy, as it is the system, which improves with the passage of time," he said, adding, Pakistan completed its first democratic tenure, instead of jumping to conclusions, people should give it some time to take affect.
Referring to history, Dr Jaffar said that women in Britian won their rights to cast a vote 150 years after the adoption of democracy, while in United States slavery was abolished after 100 years of democracy.
"Democracy might not be perfect, but it is the best system that human beings have produced so far. It might take a long time to see the affects and positive changes," Jaffar said.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
KARACHI: Salauddin, a 25-year-old Bangladeshi, came to Karachi in 2004, so he could support his six family members in his home country.
He came on a work permit to sell burgers, when the value of Pakistani currency was much higher compared to Bangladesh. After working for a year, in 2005 Salauddin decided to open a burger-stall in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. His business thrived, and he was able to send money back home until everything suddenly took a 180-degree turn for him in 2007. Salauddin witnessed both, the tenure of a dictator and a democratic government in Pakistan.
According to him, the dictator tenure in Pakistan was much better compared to the democratic one. During Musharraf's tenure, he used to buy all the ingredients needed to make a burger for only Rs500 a day; however currently, he is buying the same for Rs3,000 to Rs3,200 per day.
The price of a burger was Rs8 in 2005 that has now changed to Rs25, said Salauddin. Nonetheless, profits have decreased substantially, if five years ago he earned Rs800 a day excluding expenses, now he earns merely Rs400 to Rs500 a day.
It is pertinent to mention here, that when Salauddin came to Pakistan, the rupee value was higher than the Bangladeshi taka (Tk). Up till 2008 the burger-vendor used to send home at least Rs10,000 a month, that turned into Tk13,000 in Bangladesh - now, due to the devalued Pakistan rupee, his family receives only Tk7,000 on the same amount.
Keeping in mind the growing inflation and very little profit, the vendor had decided to go back to his homeland. However, even that seems to be impossible for him at the moment, since he is unable to save any amount to buy a ticket to Bangladesh.
"My family is pressurising me now to go back, as there is nothing beneficial except loss by continuing to live here. But I cannot even do that, because I am unable to save Rs30,000 which is the price of a one-way ticket to my home country," related Salauddin sadly.
Salauddin is not the only person favouring dictatorship; there are many others who have been arguing against the elected government on social and electronic media.
A graduate of the University of Karachi, Sheikh Azam, 24, while talking to Daily Times, said, "It is true that Pakistan has been ruled by dictators most of the time, but it is also a fact that in every democratic government, the situation becomes worse than ever before."
During the previous dictatorial regime, wheat flour cost Rs 15 per kilogramme, but now it is Rs 42 per kilogramme, he said, adding, "Price of wheat was increased 185 percent by the so-called 'democratic government', just to benefit a few landlords, who already enjoy huge amounts of subsidy and do not pay tax despite earning billions through agri-products."
Zubar Ali, a fresh graduate from Bahria University, commented that almost five years ago he heard the slogan 'Democracy is the best Revenge'.
"I want to ask from whom did the so-called democratic stake holders take their revenge, except the public?" said Ali who has been jobless for more then a year.
As the democratically elected government completes its tenure for the first time in the history of Pakistan, people seem to be confused between the advantages and disadvantages of a democratic system versus dictatorship.
In this regard, talking to Daily Times, Director Pakistan Study Centre Dr Syed Jaffar commented that corruption is a major cause behind this confusion, and both civilian and in dictatorial governments have been corrupt. It is history that people termed good leader to previous one while doing compression with existing one.
"I am not supporting the present government of President Asif Ali Zaradi, but supporting democracy, as it is the system, which improves with the passage of time," he said, adding, Pakistan completed its first democratic tenure, instead of jumping to conclusions, people should give it some time to take affect.
Referring to history, Dr Jaffar said that women in Britian won their rights to cast a vote 150 years after the adoption of democracy, while in United States slavery was abolished after 100 years of democracy.
"Democracy might not be perfect, but it is the best system that human beings have produced so far. It might take a long time to see the affects and positive changes," Jaffar said.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan