The holy month of Ramazan can test the best of us. All the talk of patience is put to the ultimate trial, especially in the hours leading up to Iftar. And more often than not, we tend to lose it. Howling our lungs clean, we like to think that the sanctity of the holy month is intact despite the abuse flowing from our mouths. However, there are people out there who have to maintain their patience come what may. And almost all of us are dependent on them not losing their cool. One set of such people are the traffic police personnel.

Standing at the corner of the busy Shaheen Complex intersection one gets the opportunity to see and appreciate the hard work of the traffic policemen. They are busy making sure that we all reach home for Iftar on time. One minute the traffic is given the opportunity to follow the rules with the help of automated signals. The next it’s a mess, thanks to our eagerness to beat the signal come what may. Breaking the law is more like it. The result is gridlock of insurmountable proportions. But as soon as it seems that all’s lost and we’ll all be breaking the fast on the streets of Karachi, in come the traffic-wallahs. And in a matter of a few minutes, with a bit of shouting and some reluctance on part of the drivers the traffic is flowing again. I have seen it on numerous occasions, fascinated that the same corps of law enforcers who are so looked down upon, are busy cleaning the mess we create.

This tale repeats itself throughout the city on a number of locations. But have we ever thought of the hours that they remain out in the sun day in and day out? During Ramazan the traffic police personnel are required to maintain civility on the roads, whether we the educated, riding in our air-conditioned cars, want to or not. Our excuse for not observing the law is that we have a roza. What about the man in white who is required to manage our craziness? It could be a rickshaw going the wrong way. Or a 4x4 with a bevy of armed bodyguards in tow, squealing the sirens to clear the way. The traffic police-wallah has to accommodate both these and many more just to ensure that you and I reach our homes on time. And that too standing in the searing heat of May and June, while fasting, inhaling toxic fumes from our multimillion rupee vehicle.

Despite all the ills associated with the traffic police we should give credit where it’s due. That a person standing under the blazing sun is standing there to provide relief and perform his duty for our benefit. All he’s asking for is a little cooperation.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2017