Article

From Berozagari To NIP And NIP To Delayed Stipends; An Agonizing Tale

2025 views

Disclaimer*: The articles shared under 'Your Voice' section are sent to us by contributors and we neither confirm nor deny the authenticity of any facts stated below. Parhlo News will not be liable for any false, inaccurate, inappropriate or incomplete information presented on the website. Read our disclaimer.

This post is also available in: العربية (Arabic) اردو (Urdu)

As a fresh graduate in Pakistan, it’s really hard to get a job immediately. Most of the fresh graduates including me belong to the same “BEROZGAR” category, we are desperate to seize every available opportunity. We rush upon an advertisement like it’s the last job advertisement in our life. Are we eligible? Is it good for our future? What is the salary? etc.

For us, these type of questions lies in a special category called “BAD ME SOCHENGE”. The only thing that we do is, if there is an inch of possibility that we are eligible for the job, we will staple our miles long resume, tons of documents and start the requisite procedure to apply.

That desperation is just to complete the circle of money, which is ready to bite. To apply for a job we need money, as most of Testing Agencies, are not Testing Agencies but ATM machines ready to suck the last penny in our pocket. Our problem is, we are BEROZGARS and don’t have money, we have to get money from our elders and deposit to these Testing Agencies. That’s the circle of money I am talking about; from our elders to us and from us to testing agencies. But the circle seems incomplete and yes, it is.

Source: Jahangir’s World Times

The circle is only going to complete on result announcement day, those who are selected for the job completes the circle by getting a payback as salaries.VELLA’S like us whose position always resides at the bottom get a “Gali” with “Chappal” at home and for us, the circle starts again.BEROZGARS; addicted to this taunt and “Gali” but deeper inside, a fraction of guilt is always felt.

In this job-scarce climate, advertisement of National Internship Program (NIP)/Prime Minister Youth Training Scheme (PMYTS) felt like the puff of breeze. As habitual, I rushed to NIP site and icing on the cake; there was no application fee, it just felt wow. I and all BEROZGARS like me were in hurry to make hay while the sun shines. Done with apply, now was the time to wait and watch.

BEROZGARS are very easy to lose morale and literally prepared to be on the list of not selected. I randomly opened my email, to my sight was an email; an email to stamp a stop at berozagari, an email to settle the circle of money. Yes; it was an email of selection at NIP. It felt awesome to be in the list of selected. Emotions were high, destitute; pervasive but for friends, I’ve thrown Samosa Chat party, which I strongly regret now. With me, a seventy thousand other BEROZGARS also got selected.

Every one joined their deputed offices, first six months went smoothly without interruptions in disbursing stipends. After six months, stipends were delayed for weeks, even for months. Same customary reasons; rusty human machinery, lack of interest, stagnant paperwork and the shortage of funds etc. Anyhow, interns got their payments for the first ten months, the last two months are still due, to be paid by the government.

It has been more than four months, stipends are delayed. The government officials haven’t given a satisfactory answer nor an assurance regarding stipend disbursement. Their attitude of deliberate negligence apropos the issue is disrespect of these graduates. It’s a basic right of these seventy thousand interns to get payments for duties they performed. Internship ended in PMLN’s tenure then interim government, now PTI’s government, no one has shown a glimpse of interest to disburse these payments.

It’s a humble request to Prime Mister and concerned authorities to issue funds and disburse stipends of these interns, ASAP. The story up to some stretch may seem fictional, but grievances, demands, and complaints are purely genuine. For some of you fifteen thousand, a month may be nothing, but maximum of these interns belong to poor families. Also, it’s their right to be paid for the duties they performed.

The last sentence is for these NIP interns including me, it has been more than four months; stipends are delayed and it’s strange; not a single meaningful voice being raised. BEROZGARO? Apne haq ke liye awaz kab uthao ge?

Snap Chat Tap to follow