KARACHI:
As Karachi residents shiver in a rare cold wave, the bustling metropolitan city loses its archetypal cacophony at night. While many retreat to the warmth of their cozy homes, snuggling under soft duvets and blankets, a harsh reality unfolds on the city’s sidewalks, which are transformed into a refuge for the homeless population.
These “trail dwellers” brave the harsh cold under the open sky. During the day, makeshift markets appear on these trails; At night, they become a shelter for homeless people. “The homeless include men, women, children and the elderly. Many also struggle with drug addiction,” said Nisar Ahmed, head of a rescue organization in the Bohra Pir area. He attributed the rise in the homeless population to rising inflation and other socioeconomic challenges.
Areas like Keamari, Saddar, Korangi, Lyari and Gulistan-e-Jauhar are hotspots for footpath dwellers, Nisar said. In the absence of reliable data, it is difficult to assess the true magnitude of this issue. Many of these homeless people work or beg during the day, but at night they return to the trails or take shelter under bridges and overpasses.
Muhammad Naeem, who works for a welfare organization that gives away food near the Jamia cloth market, said: “Unlike those who sleep in warm beds, these dissolute people depend on cardboard, plastic bags or worn sheets to sustain themselves. “Donations of warm clothing, blankets and duvets have decreased this year due to inflation,” he added.
The cold has been especially unforgiving for the elderly and children. “Many homeless people shake at night and desperately need help,” said rickshaw driver Bashir Ahmed, who lives in Lyari.
Laila, a 60-year-old homeless woman from Ranchhor Line, calls the sidewalk her home. “I left home years ago. This trail is my family now,” he said. Using cardboard as a bed and a shawl donated by a stranger as a comforter, she asked for help to survive the cold snap.
“I wash dishes in a hotel to earn food. At night, I try to keep warm by burning pieces of wood and paper. It’s not enough, but it’s all we have,” Ahmed, 70, told The Express PAkGazette.
Chaudhry Shahid, spokesman for a rescue organization, said it was urgent to help these people. “Homeless people need warm clothing, duvets and mattresses. Many succumb to the cold every year, and our organization often takes care of their burials,” he said.
Shahid appealed to the government to set up temporary shelters and asked philanthropists to help the homeless. A blanket and mattress, which cost around Rs 2,000, could save a life. However, for these sidewalk dwellers, even this amount is out of reach.
