We all know Genie isn’t real and it’s a made up creature who can make any of your wishes come true. Of course even as a child I never believed in Genie. But now as an adult I really wish a Genie were real and I could ask him to bring the rest of my family from Pakistan to the United States and that they all could all live with me peacefully and don’t have to struggle daily for basic human rights.
Right now I am feeling pretty sad and frustrated at the same time. Here in the Illinois, the temperature is pretty, hot but we get get rain and many ways to cool ourselves down. Pretty much anywhere we go there is air conditioning running. And we don’t have to worry about losing electrical power.
We have struggles here, too, but at least not for basic human needs. Even for homeless people there are many shelters available for the entire family, but that’s not the case in Karachi, where my family is.
Before I start writing what’s happening there, I also want to point out that this is a holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam. This is the month you must fast from sunrise to sundown for the entire month. And the way is works you absolutely can’t eat or drink anything until the sundown. And since Ramadan came in the Summer this year, each day fast is almost 18 hours long. Can you imagine that. But Muslims who follows the religion fast no matter what because that’s something you don’t have a choice but to do it. Here is a link about Ramadan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan_(calendar_month) Here in the States, Muslims are fasting, too, but again there are many ways you can cool down and take it easy while you are fasting, but what choice do Karachi people have.
Here are many reasons why I am frustrated. I had applied for my family immigration in 2004, and this is 2015. After 11 years, still so signs for them to come here. When I call U.S. Immigration, they tell me there is nothing you and I can go anymore. Your family files are in the national visa center. They are still working on 2003 files; when your sister’s turns come they will let you know. So just sit and wait. This could take three more years to eight more years or more. Very very frustrating.
Now since this is month of Ramadan and Pakistan is a muslim country. The entire country is fasting. And each year Karachi’s temperature is getting higher and higher in the summer. Right now the average temperate of karachi is 105-113 degrees Fahrenheit. And Karachi is very dry they hardly even get good rain. And the humidity is also pretty high. It’s not a joke: Humidity high, no air conditioning running, no electric power to run fans or fridge. Yes you can have generators, but the way their generators work, you are limited to use. Plus they break down pretty quickly. When the temperature is 1113 above and you are fasting and top of that no electricity for 10 hours a day, can you imagine how people must be feeling there?
I pretty much FaceTime with my family on a daily base. And I see while they are sitting talking to me sweat running down their skin. They are feeling absolutely miserable. Here is one thing about hot temperature we humans have no control over. But when Karachi electric supply company turn electricity off for many hours while people are fasting, what do you say to them? I call it abuse, and sad to say the Pakistan government isn’t doing anything at all. I know since Pakistan isn’t a development country; we have to share electricity with others. But still don’t like it and they should come up with a different plan.
It makes me so sad and frustrated not just for my family for everyone else. I feel guilty even though it’s not my fault but to see my family and others are absolutely miserable and struggling each day for their basic needs. And I truly wish if I could have a genie; I would ask him to bring everyone here and live comfortably.
