In present day Pakistan, where the rich grow richer and the poor starve, the concept of charity has taken hold. This not only influences the rich to give donations to feed and clothe the poor, but the government – and now media has jumped into the picture. A picture has emerged where the concept of work has been replaced by passive reception of aid. Indeed, the more sanitized version one sees on television are theatrical performances, climaxed by giving away prizes.
Labor leaders say that giving away food and prizes strike at the dignity and self-worth of humans. Even if giving aid is brought about by a sense of compassion for suffering humanity, it is no substitute for work. According to them, charity is also lowering the resistance that the labor class normally shows when their rights are violated by employers. The jury is out on how much damage will have been done to society substituting charity for work.