People want cheap ‘roti’ and ‘paratha’

About four decades back, common men and women came to know and understand well the meaning of metro in their own interest.

Former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif may claim credit for this novel idea as he too introduced a ‘Sasti Roti Scheme’ in Lahore sometime ago.

Cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, now elected prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, did not lag behind and he soon came up with a similar people’s ‘roti’ programme that gained popularity in Islamabad.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who came into power in 1972 with the support of the common people, established ‘Sasti Roti and Paratha Plants’ in many cities.

The lower and below the poverty people benefited from what came to be known as ‘great service to the common man.’ The middle class was also a beneficiary.

What about Nawaz Sharif who says he was elected the country’s prime minister three times to serve the nation but could not complete the gigantic task of socio-economic progress of the country. God bless the people.

The common people remember what he had said after inaugurating the Rs.28 billion 18 kilometre long Metro Bus Service project for Multan.

By the way, now a new Pakistan is in the making under the prime ministership of Imran Khan.

The common man says: God bless us for our new iron determination to rebuild the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and defend it along with the armed forces and defeat aggression from any side.

Interaction with various segments of society reveals people of Potohar are in favour of an environment free from any dirty politics. They want all divergent groups and parties to converge on a viable programme of reconciliation, consensus and harmony to get rid of any foreign pressures and loans.

“In fact, we want to achieve, as soon as possible, the goal of socio-economic justice and education for all whether we are Baloch, Sindhi, Pashtun, Punjabi and Seraiki,” say people. Their first question again is about cheap ‘roti’ and ‘paratha’.

— zasarwar@hotmail.com