Not Rations, But Rights for Nakyal! Not Relief, But Transparency and Dignity! Not Charity, But Skills—and Sustainable Livelihoods!

Not Rations, But Rights for Nakyal! Not Relief, But Transparency and Dignity! Not Charity, But Skills—and Sustainable Livelihoods! By Shah Nawaz Ali Sher, Advocate High Court (Member, Joint Awami Action Committee, Nakyal, Kotli) When Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KS Relief) announced a $14.2 million food-security package for flood-affected communities across Pakistan, including Azad Jammu & Kashmir, it was seen as a much-needed gesture of solidarity. For Nakyal—located directly along the Ceasefire Line—it should have been a vital moment of support. But once again, the same bitter story repeated itself: favoritism, nepotism, and deliberate exclusion. In Nakyal, government employees and their well-connected relatives swept up the aid before it could reach those who truly needed it. Nakyal has long been on the receiving end of countless relief operations—border packages, disaster aid, charity distributions. But for the majority, this has brought not relief, but humiliation, exploitation, and inequality. Whether it's Saudi assistance or packages from private foundations like Shahid Afridi Foundation, the outcome remains the same: A photo session for the powerful. A public spectacle for the poor. The Joint Awami Action Committee Nakyal rightfully demanded that the beneficiary lists be made public, so transparency and merit could be ensured. But once again, officials and elite groups looted the rights of the poor—mocking both justice and the concept of governance. Is the aim to turn the people into beggars? This is not just a question—it is a call to conscience. Thousands of deserving individuals were forced to line up with their identity cards, only to be insulted and turned away. Women were shoved and photographed while competing for a single sack of flour. Is this humanity? Is this the dignity of a people who speak of freedom, justice, and self-determination? Where is the shame when a woman’s image sparks outrage on Facebook, but that same woman standing in a ration line—begging for survival—is captured on camera and broadcast around the world? Why don’t those who preach caste and community pride come forward with actual support? Why only speeches—why no rations, no justice? We must understand: rations will never end poverty. Only fair distribution of resources, transparent governance, and empowerment can bring real change. Most people in Nakyal either work abroad under harsh conditions or remain deprived of basic services at home. But this poverty is not natural—it is man-made. It is the result of mismanagement, systemic corruption, and injustice. Relief, rations, and charity are not solutions. They are tools of suppression—used to rob a nation of its dignity. The state, which should act like a mother, treats Nakyal worse than a stepchild. Billions of rupees in aid have come and gone. Yet all the public has received is degradation. We demand skills, not pity. We demand livelihoods, not leftovers. If the government, NGOs, and donor agencies are sincere, then they must shift their focus: Provide skills training. Create sustainable jobs. Launch self-reliance initiatives. Clicking photos while distributing charity—just to raise more funds from donors—is not development. It is the assassination of human dignity. Programs like Benazir Income Support offer a few thousand rupees—but they neither eliminate poverty nor restore self-respect. Until skills are taught, merit is ensured, and corruption is crushed, our people will remain dependent. Public awareness is no longer optional—it is essential. The time is now. In Nakyal, ordinary people are building their own roads, running schools, and even constructing bridges. These are the state’s responsibilities—but the people are forced to fill the gap. While their efforts deserve respect, they also expose a fundamental truth: the state has failed. And yet, the same corrupt figures are honored with garlands and money. Why the hypocrisy? How long will this go on? The people must stop looking to political figures and charity groups for favors. Instead, they must ask: Where is the just distribution of resources? Where is transparency? Why are our youth denied employment? This is a defining moment. We must decide: Will we always bow our heads for a ration bag? Or will we rise for dignity, justice, and our rightful share? The "Justice for Ceasefire Line" campaign by the Joint Awami Action Committee Nakyal is more than a protest—it is a movement of resolve. We say clearly: Nakyal’s people will no longer be humiliated. We will no longer be silenced. Now, Nakyal’s conscious youth will speak—so powerfully that even the deaf will hear, and the silent will speak. To the youth, we say: > No more rations—we want rights! No more charity—we want employment! No more photo sessions—we want transparency! No more humiliation—we want dignity! Our rights are not favors. They are our constitutional, legal, and democratic entitlements. We demand them—not tomorrow, but today. Change the system, not just the faces. Change your thinking. Change society. Change Nakyal. Not tomorrow—now. Not later—this very moment. Start by changing your own mindset. Only then can we build a Nakyal rooted in justice, equality, dignity, and shared prosperity. This change will happen. And it will come from us. Because we are the determined voice of a skilled, awakened, and self-reliant Nakyal. (End)