Written By: Abdul Basit Alvi
My childhood was spent in Tehsil Pallandri of Azad Kashmir. Being from a scholarly and literary family, I was fond of reading and writing since my childhood. The purpose of reading the newspaper was to read articles and see the advertisements of admissions and vacancies in addition to being aware of the current news. My Father already booked a hawker to deliver us newspaper daily. The hawker used to have a routine and he used to throw the newspaper through our door at eight o’clock daily in the morning. Whether it was cold, hot, raining or sunny, his routine was the same. I never seen him take unnecessary leave or be late. Sometimes, in case of necessity, he used to make alternative arrangements, but the newspaper was received on time. The same was the case with the newspaper seller’s shop, which was always found open.
The same is the case even after having seen almost 50 springs of my life. The days and nights of the newspaper vendor and hawker is almost the same as what we have seen since childhood. Newspaper vendors and hawkers are a class whose wages are very low and the work is very laborious and regular. There is no proper welfare system for this class and these people are living a very poor and substandard life.
Azad Kashmir’s Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan’s good governance and keen interest regarding welfare management have been quite famous in general public these days, which was also demonstrated a few months ago during his visit to Press Club Muzaffarabad. Considering the plight of newspaper vendors and hawkers, Mr. Prime Minister also announced a grant of 50 lakhs for their welfare and financial assistance. Despite the passage of many months, this money has not been reached the newspaper vendors and hawkers. Meanwhile, many newspaper vendors and hawkers have suffered from accidents and other diseases and are living in a miserable state of poverty and helplessness.
The newspaper vendors, hawkers and the people of the region strongly appeal to the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir to release this aid money immediately and take steps for the betterment of this community. The Prime Minister has been well received by the public with his recent announcements & actions and his initiative to provide practical assistance to the newsagents and hawkers will go a long way in enhancing further his positive image.
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