A Harbinger of Change

Iqbal Ahmad Bhurt, a 44-year-old social worker, has made a notable contribution to the society by helping the citizens raise their voice for improved public service delivery. Bhurt’s interventions in Dadu and Khairpur districts of Sindh province have enabled the local communities to ask questions from and follow up with their elected representatives.

While the situation of the disadvantaged sections of society is far from ideal in many parts of Pakistan, those in rural Sindh find it particularly difficult to get their rights. For example, the repair of an electricity transformer could take months; the middlemen could buy paddy at two-thirds of the government support price with impunity; and the local electricity company could continue to send bills to the people whose meters were washed away in floods, years ago.

The air of resignation about the disadvantaged in Sindh had resulted in a situation where they had become completely apolitical. Bhurt, despite his Master’s degree in Sociology and experience of working with local and national NGOs since 2005, was no exception. However, fortunately, this changed in 2015!

“USAID-sponsored training and experience-sharing sessions on the importance of the local government system made me realize that I could bring about a positive change in my community,” Bhurt says. “They helped me develop leadership skills that triggered a chain reaction of change. I am proud of facilitating the public voice that has resulted in improved public services in Khairpur and Dadu districts.”

The training and experience-sharing sessions were organized by Bhittai Social Welfare Association, a Khairpur-based NGO funded by USAID Citizens’ Voice Project under Grants Cycle 6 thematic area ‘Importance of Local Government Elections’, and they proved to be first rung of the ladder for Bhurt.

After Bhurt educated the residents of Khaskheli Mohalla, Kingri city, Khairpur district, on the power of their vote, they now have access to electricity since a new transformer has been installed in their neighborhood. Similarly, Bhurt motivated the farmers of Kothi Khokhar village, Dadu district, to take collective action, leaving the middlemen with no option but to buy the paddy at the government support price of Rs. 900 per 40 kg. Likewise, Bhurt’s advocacy campaign on local government elections enabled the residents of Kingri taluka, Khairpur district, to elect a local social activist as vice-chairman of the union council, paving the way for waiving off their electricity dues amounting to Rs. 12.5 million.

Bhurt is a strong advocate of the local government system since it provides the citizens, at the grassroots level, with an opportunity to become part of the political system and solve the problems of their community. “If politicians are not trained at the grassroots level, they would never make it to the top. Local government elections provide an opportunity to the masses, particularly the youth, to take part in politics and realize their dreams,” he says.

A social activist at heart, Bhurt has contributed to a long list of community successes. He credits the support provided by USAID and the Americans through the Citizens’ Voice Project that contributed to his personal and professional development. “It has enabled me to think beyond myself and my family, and start a journey towards betterment of the society.”