In today’s challenging economic climate, marked by relentless inflation and rising living costs, securing even two meals a day has become a struggle for many families. As countless individuals juggle multiple jobs just to survive, stories of resilience and self-reliance stand out as powerful reminders of human dignity and determination.
Rising Inflation and emerging struggle from Slums of Burki
From the slums of Burki, one such story emerges—that of Parveen, a woman who chose perseverance over dependence. Refusing to extend her hand before others, she resolved to rely on her own skills and hard work. By transforming her sewing expertise into a sustainable source of income, Parveen has taken a courageous step toward providing an honest livelihood for her family, embodying the spirit of self-empowerment in the face of adversity and rising inflation.
Parveen’s life revolves in the circle where daily life is shaped by persistent financial hardship. She shared that managing household responsibilities has been an ongoing struggle, particularly as her husband, who works on daily wages, remains unemployed most of the time. As a result, the burden of running the household during the day to day increasing inflation largely falls on her shoulders. To support the family, her children also contribute in whatever way they can—her daughter works at a beauty parlor, while her 10-year-old son earns a modest income by washing cars in the neighborhood.
Sewing Skills as a Source of Livelihood
A skill learned at a very young age became the foundation of Parveen’s journey toward earning a dignified livelihood. She mastered sewing early in life and continues to rely on this craft as her primary source of income. Her monthly earnings depend entirely on the number of garments she is able to stitch—at times, receiving as few as five orders in a month, making it extremely difficult to meet even the most basic household needs.
Despite these challenges, Parveen takes great pride in her work. She stitches each garment with care and precision, ensuring quality and attention to detail so that every piece meets her clients’ expectations. Her dedication has earned her the trust of customers, many of whom return repeatedly because of their satisfaction with her work. Over the years, she has built lasting relationships with people who not only rely on her tailoring services but also extend financial support in times of need. On one occasion, a customer arrived to place an order and spoke to Parveen with warmth and affection, reflecting a bond that goes beyond a professional relationship—treating her as a member of her own family.
Bearing the Burden as the Sole Breadwinner
Speaking about inflation, Parveen explained that inflation and the rising cost of living has deeply affected her family, as it has countless others. With a limited and unstable income and increased inflation, meeting even the most basic needs has become increasingly difficult. She currently lives in a rented house and single-handedly bears the financial responsibility of nine family members, including her children and elderly in-laws.
The burden of provision of life’s basic necessities rests entirely on her shoulders, as her husband neither contributes financially nor assists with domestic responsibilities. In addition to managing household expenses, she ensures that her aging in-laws receive their necessary medicines—sometimes prioritizing their treatment even when there is barely enough money for food. She shared that her husband’s involvement in drugs and gambling led to the loss of their own home, forcing the family to shift to rented accommodation. Despite these hardships, Parveen continues to persevere with resilience and unwavering commitment to her family’s well-being.
Caring for Family Amid Addiction and Financial Loss
When reflecting on her professional journey, Parveen recalled an incident that left a deep emotional impact on her. As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes while she described a time when a customer placed an order for eight suits, resulting in a substantial bill. Parveen worked tirelessly—day and night—to complete the order on time. However, after collecting the stitched clothes, the customer never returned to pay. This period proved especially devastating, as Parveen was also struggling to arrange treatment for her son’s fractured arm. With no financial support, increasing inflation and mounting responsibilities, she was ultimately forced to sell her mother’s last keepsake to cover expenses.
Describing her daily routine, Parveen shared that her life revolves around caring for her elderly in-laws, managing household chores, spending whatever time she can with her children, and continuing her sewing work alongside these responsibilities.
Acts of Kindness That Restore Hope
Despite the hardships, Parveen also shared moments that restored her faith in kindness and humanity. She recounted an instance during Eid when a customer had three suits stitched. Upon collecting the order, the woman took only two suits and gifted the third to Parveen, telling her it was for her. This gesture deeply moved Parveen, reminding her that compassion and honesty still exist in the world.
Recent studies indicate that in the current era of inflation, approximately 22–24 percent of women in Pakistan are part of the workforce, with nearly 75 percent coming from low-income or marginalized households. Like Parveen, many women work out of necessity to support their families. Her life stands as a powerful example of dignity, resilience, and self-respect. Rather than seeking charity, she chose to earn an honorable living through her skills and hard work. There are countless hardworking individuals like Parveen across the country whose efforts often go unnoticed. Supporting, encouraging, and uplifting them is essential to helping them reach their full potential.
As the saying attributed to Hazrat Ali (RA) goes:
“The one who works hard never remains poor.”
Overall, Parveen’s story reflects themes of struggle, sacrifice, and unwavering determination. It mirrors the reality faced by many working-class women in Pakistan who shoulder immense family responsibilities under difficult circumstances. Despite inflation, poverty, personal loss, and physical exhaustion, she continues to persevere with patience and strength—offering a powerful insight into the resilience required to survive and sustain a family with limited resources.
By PNP Intern – Hareem Mansoor
This post has been submitted by one of our interns. PNP Internship Program is an exciting career opportunity for Pakistani university students to get hands-on valuable experience required in national and international job market.
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