Shikarpur, an ancient and historic city known for its cultural and architectural splendour, peaceful traditions and unhurried way of life, is passing through a deeply troubling phase. Despite carrying the scars of prolonged tribal feuds and a deteriorating law-and-order situation, its people have long clung to a life of contentment and quiet resilience.
Yet, in recent months, the city has witnessed a disturbing rise in suicides among young people. These immature deaths have sent shockwaves across this sleepy city, leaving communities wondering why young men are cutting short their lives. The answer is written on the walls of the city.
The causes are not mysterious. Educated young men, carrying degrees and dreams, find no door open in the job market. Families struggling to make ends meet watch killing inflation devour their meagre incomes, while their children’s aspirations for employment, independence and a dignified life remain unfulfilled. Frustration and uncertainty deepen when the future offers little or almost no hope.
The situation is aggravated by gambling dens, easily accessible drugs and the destructive akraperchi betting business. Worse still, illegal moneylending mafias lie in wait, exploiting vulnerable young men through exorbitant interest rates. Those who borrow out of desperation soon find their debts multiplying faster than they can earn, leaving them trapped in a blind alley, hounded by creditors and ashamed before their families. Such predatory practices ruin young lives, drain family resources and corrode social values.
(Shikarpur)
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
The writer is a Shikarpur-based retired civil servant. The views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the newspaper