I have seen some of slumps as big as
housing 700,000 people, a place called Machar Colony, located in the largest
city of Pakistan, Karachi, where the average house covers an area of about 150
sq. feet with a family of 6-10 people living in the house. There are no
metallic roads, just narrow, un-even, bumpy, and dusty lanes where only the
cycles and motorcycles can have the approach. These houses are made of
single-brick walls and asbestos-sheets used as the roof. There is no water
supply to the houses and the inmates fill their cans from the street taps. Most
of the people are un-employed and you will find young boys chatting in the
streets during the day time; they become prone to the anti-social elements and
get involved in street crimes.
But still, children living in that
area want to go to schools; get higher education and become a doctor or a pilot
or an engineer, but they don’t know how. I act as a mentor for them and guide
them, listen to their life at home and their ambitions ahead. When I see their
shining faces, I feel satisfied and admire them for their high hopes in spite of
their miseries.