PakistanTalk Forum

DarkStar · 11-12-2009, 06:08 PM

Feeding Pakistan's Hungry in Pictures

The global recession has hit many Pakistanis hard. Every day this charity in the heart of Karachi prepares meals in these enormous cooking pots for up to 40,000 people. Text and photos by BBC Urdu's Arshid Ali.

Meals are distributed at food centres like this one where people are patiently queuing. The centres use mobile phones to ensure they never run out of food.

More and more people are coming to eat at the food centres which are open 365 days a year. There is no restriction on the amount they can eat.

A mother and child enjoy a hearty meal, probably the only one they will have for the day.

This man tucks into a tasty piece of goat. He says eating meat is a luxury he can no longer afford because it costs more than his daily wage.

The food centres make meat dishes from the estimated 400 goats that are donated every day.

A father sits with his two sons to eat at the food centre because he has no permanent work.

Even people who do have jobs like this armed police officer have resorted to eating in the food centres because their salaries are not very big.

This child is a window cleaner and is the sole bread winner in the family. "Whatever I earn I give to my mother and when I am hungry I come and eat here."

BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | In pictures: Feeding Pakistan's hungry

DarkStar · 11-12-2009, 06:16 PM

I believe it is acts like above, the generosity of the people of Pakistan, which is the only saving grace for our embattled country. Maybe it is such acts of kindnesses, which Providence looks upon and grants us some semblence of security in these testing times.

Neo · 11-12-2009, 06:17 PM

A very generous gesture and initiative by Karachi'ites to feed the hungry. The centers are set up in various parts of the city and run on donation. One figure shows that as much as 400 goats are donated every day to prapare a decent meal for 40.000 people.

More cities should follow this example.

Neo · 11-12-2009, 06:20 PM

The food centers are open 365 days a year and there is no restriction on the amount one can eat. For many poor this is the only meal they will see all day.

Lady Macbeth · 11-12-2009, 06:20 PM

This could be the new Steve Curry Afghan girl picture.....where is this by the way DS?

HasanG20 · 11-12-2009, 06:21 PM

YouTube - Pakistan's stuggle 2009

Lady Macbeth · 11-12-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo

A very generous gesture and initiative by Karachi'ites to feed the hungry. The centers are set up in various parts of the city and run on donation. One figure shows that as much as 400 goats are donated every day to prapare a decent meal for 40.000 people.

More cities should follow this example.

Are you serious?...every day? Where exactly in KHI?

Neo · 11-12-2009, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Macbeth

This could be the new Steve Curry Afghan girl picture.....where is this by the way DS?

This poor child is a window cleaner in Karachi and the sole bread winner in the family. "Whatever I earn I give to my mother and when I am hungry I come here to eat".

Lady Macbeth · 11-12-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkStar

I believe it is acts like above, the generosity of the people of Pakistan, which is the only saving grace for our embattled country. Maybe it is such acts of kindnesses, which Providence looks upon and grants us some semblence of security in these testing times.

So true.....one never knows what reward he/she may receive for an eeny meeny good deed........

Selma Shirazi · 11-13-2009, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo

This poor child is a window cleaner in Karachi and the sole bread winner in the family. "Whatever I earn I give to my mother and when I am hungry I come here to eat".

So sad, she should be in school and enjoy her youth instead of being the bread winer for the family.
My heart breakes whenever I see or hear anything like this. :cray: