I agree with Ghazala. All this business about the oil-rich countries all silent and not paying any attention to this crisis is abominable.

Great article, Mona.

The crisis of the refugees pouring in by millions from the Swat and Dir and FATA is getting worse day by day and still it would take almost a year to bring back the routine of life in these areas. Sufferings and miseries are mounting, and the complexity of the culture mingled with mismanagement and lack of resources on part of government which is also busy in fighting the terrorists is making the task more Herculean.

One of the Five Pillars of Islam is “Zakat” which means giving a percentage of one’s wealth to others in need. If the oil-rich nations of the Middle East abide by this fundamental tenet of Islam by at least helping other Muslim nations, there would be no poverty in that region of the world. Those nations should also be willing to help Pakistan, for example, at a time when millions of its innocent civilians are in dire need of help.

But the oil rich nations are busy in their own harems and palaces and we have to do it ourselves. A Zakat drive should be initiated throughout the country to help the IDPs stand on their feet as soon as possible. Moreover, this Zakat should mainly be directed towards those IDPs who are living out of the camps in the homes of people in Swat and Mardan.