KARACHI: The nation’s commercial center, Karachi, was previously home to countless prancing donkeys, but as maintenance expenses rise and the city’s area grows, they are being forced to retire.
Trembling donkey carts have long been a necessary part of aftermarket transportation from the south wholesale bazaars of the megapolis, tucked away in winding streets where conventional cars are unable to reach their treasure trove of goods.
The beasts of burden offered low-paid laborers a route to financial security because of their tenacity, minimal overhead, and crucial function in ensuring a steady and modest profit on which to survive.
However, harsh inflation has made feed expensive while the metropolis has grown to accommodate about 50 times as many people as it did prior to the country’s independence in 1947, pushing animals to their limits over long distances.
