My friend Khalid has been using a wheelchair since a road accident eight years ago. He worked as a schoolteacher before the accident. Afterward, the school couldn’t accommodate him — no ramp, no accessible bathroom, no way to reach his second-floor classroom. He lost his job within a year. For the first three years, his … Read more
When Nasreen’s husband passed away from a heart attack in February two years ago, the immediate grief was followed almost immediately by panic. He’d been the only earner. She had three children — thirteen, ten, and seven years old. The house was rented. His small auto repair income had covered everything just barely. Without it, … Read more
Parveen has been a BISP beneficiary for four years. She receives her Kafaalat payment every quarter — Rs. 10,500 when it arrives, which she stretches carefully across three months. Last Ramzan, she was standing in a queue at an HBL Konnect agent waiting to collect her payment when the woman ahead of her mentioned she’d … Read more
My mother-in-law discovered Utility Stores three years into living in Karachi. She’d been shopping at the same private kiryana for years — familiar faces, delivered to the door, buy now pay later on trust. It was convenient. It was also roughly 20 to 30 percent more expensive than it needed to be for the basic … Read more
Every Ramzan, the same thing happens in our neighborhood. The announcement comes out — government is distributing subsidized flour, ghee, pulses, and sugar through designated stores and utility stores. Prices cut significantly. Limited stock. First come, first served. By day three of the announcement, half the neighborhood still doesn’t know about it. By day seven, … Read more