They clean the roads that lead to the homes of the elite, the sophisticated, the rich, the well-dressed, the well groomed and the ones always speaking about human rights – most often in the five star hotels of the town. But these men, some one thousand of them​ in DHA and Clifton​, who are out on the streets every day, inhaling the disease-laden dust and enduring  the scorching  sun remain completely invisible to the air-conditioned elite.

They wear bathroom slippers instead of safety shoes. They toil without  the protection of face masks, safety glasses or even caps or hats to soften the sun’s rays.

This is not an issue of their health and safety. This is an issue of our wealth and insensitivity.

Why haven’t the more prosperous and well-heeled, famous for their charity balls and fund-raising dinners, come together to lessen the misery of the most poverty stricken, under-privileged, and under-valued segment of our society? Can the affluent class have a change of heart and attitude towards those who serve them every day in such miserable and demeaning circumstances?

The time to begin this task is now. Let us not forget that Irfan Masih of Umerkot was not killed only by the inhumanity of the  fasting doctor on duty , but by the collective absence of our own conscience and humanity.