British Pakistanis hit hard by multiple crises

英国巴基斯坦人受到多重危机的重创

AS the fog cast by political uncertainty appears to settle with the appointment of Prime Minister Rishi Su­­n­­­ak, one thing is clear: a long winter of financial har­dship is on the cards for households across the country.

The cost of living crisis has forced around 24 million people in Great Britain to reduce energy use at home, and 16 million to cut back on food and essentials. But among those affected, ethnic minorities fear the worst. With nine in 10 adults in Great Britain reporting higher costs of living compared to last year, a recent study shows that Pakistanis in the UK are up to 3.3 times more likely to be in relative poverty than white people.

In an analysis titled ‘Falling faster amidst a cost-of-living crisis’, think-tank Runnymede Trust wrote, “Despite only making up around 15pc of the population in the UK, more than a quarter (26pc) of those in ‘deep poverty’ (i.e. more than 50pc below the poverty line) are from a minority ethnic background.”

政局的不确定性带来的迷雾似乎已随着总理的任命而消散，但有一件事摆在眼前：对所有英国家庭来说，经济困难的漫长寒冬即将到来。

生活成本危机已经迫使大约2400万英国人减少家中的能源消耗，1600万人削减了食物和生活必需品的支出。在受影响的人群中，少数族群的忧虑最重。90%的英国成年人的生活成本已高于去年，最近的一项研究表明，英国的巴基斯坦人陷入相对贫困的可能性是白人的3.3倍。

智库的兰尼米德在一篇题为《在生活成本危机中更快坠落》的分析中写道：“尽管只占英国总人口的15%左右，但‘深陷贫困’的人口(即低于贫困线50%以上)中有超过四分之一(26%)是少数族群。”

Since 2021, high inflation, tax increases, skyrocketing energy bills and stagnant incomes have created the perfect storm for a cost of living crisis that comes on the heels of post-pandemic hardship. Together, the increasing prices of food, electricity and fuel have delivered a heavy blow.

Even in 2008 there was a recession, but there is a night and day difference between then and now, says a mother in Birmingham.

Habib Shah, a 55-year-old working as a part-time chef in a London hospital’s catering department, said families are hit hard. “Even those who have a stable income are worried.”

Based in Harrow, Shah echoes the sentiments of many within his community. Weekly grocery bills of basic items such as meat, milk and yogurt have climbed. “Our expenses are no longer covered by the balance in the bank. We have to now rely on overdrafts,” he said.

He added that monthly groceries of basic items such as meat, milk and yogurt which previously cost GBP200 are now easily over GBP300. Gas and energy bills have gone from GBP60 a month to GB158. In the winter months, they are expected to cross GBP200.

2021年以来，紧随新冠疫情后的经济困局，高通胀、增税、能源费用飙升和收入停滞不前导致了严重的生活成本危机。食品、电力和燃料价格的不断上涨给民众的生活带来了沉重打击。

伯明翰的一位母亲说，2008年的经济衰退跟现在相比也是天壤之别。

55岁的哈比卜·沙阿(Habib Shah)在伦敦一家医院的餐饮部担任兼职厨师，他说，普通家庭受到了沉重打击，“甚至那些有稳定收入的人也开始担心了。”

沙阿住在哈罗，他的想法与所在社区的多数民众一致。每周肉类、牛奶和酸奶等基本食品的价格已经大幅攀升。“我们的银行存款已无法支付我们的生活开销，现在不得不依赖透支消费。”

他补充说，过去每月的肉类、牛奶和酸奶等基本商品的开销为200英镑，现在已轻松超过300英镑。天然气和能源费用已从每月60英镑增至158英镑。入冬后预计将超过200英镑。

Saima Haroon, a stay-at-home mother living in Birm­ingham for past 20 years, said the recent rise in costs is “the most drastic in two decades”. She said the government’s decision to incre­ase food and energy prices after the pandemic and lo­­c­kdown was a huge shock. The British Pakistani community has been badly affe­cted, she said, adding that “this is the story of every household” and being discussed.

“Even in 2008 there was a recession, but there is a night and day difference between then and now. Yes, prices were high then but the situation was not this bad. This double burden of food and energy prices being high are unbearable.”

Her weekly grocery bill which would usually be GBP80 pounds is now easily GBP150. “Now we have to think twice to shave off costs,” she said, adding that this year the family was reluctant to turn heating on even in mid-October becau­­se of the impending bills.

赛玛·哈龙（Saima Haroon）是一位在伯明翰生活了20年的全职妈妈，她表示，最近的生活成本上涨是“20年来幅度最大的”。她说，政府在疫情和飓风后决定提高食品和能源价格，这对普通民众而言是一个巨大的打击。她说，英巴社区受到了严重影响，她补充道，“每个家庭都受到了影响”，每家每户都在讨论这个问题。

“2008年也发生过经济衰退，但当时和现在依然是天壤之别。是的，当时物价也很高，但情况还没有这么糟糕。食品和能源价格居高不下的双重负担让人难以忍受。”

她每周的生活开销通常是80英镑，现在随随便便就要150英镑。“现在我们不得不三思而后行，削减开销，”她补充道，因为担心账单金额，她家今年到了10月中旬也不愿开暖气。

The ongoing political circus in the country doesn’t inspire much confidence.

目前的政治马戏并没能激起民众的信心。

Workforce relocation

Haroon said the situation is giving rise to conversations in Pakistani households about seeking employment in other countries. “If this continues, living in Britain will be untenable. If there are better prospects elsewhere, families will be forced to relocate.”

Research by not-for-profit organisation People Like Us revealed that “34pc of professionals from racially div­erse backgrounds say their salary won’t cover their mor­tgage, rent and energy bills”.

劳动力迁移

哈龙说，眼下的情况引发了巴基斯坦家庭对于去其他国家找工作的讨论。“如果这种情况继续下去，他们将无力维持在英国的生活。如果其他地方有更好的前景，这些家庭将不得不离开英国。”

非营利组织“我们这样的人”（People Like Us）的研究显示，“34%的种族背景不同的专业人士表示，他们的工资已无法支付他们的贷款、租金和能源费”。

Remittances affected

The decrease in purchasing power in the UK means families have to rethink how they spend here, if they want to continue to support loved ones back home.

According to research rel­e­ased in 2022 by WorldRemit, a digital cross border remittance business, two-fifths of Brits now send money abroad to fewer people, with another fifth reporting feeling increased pressure by loved ones to send even more money abroad.

侨汇受到影响

英国购买力的下降意味着，如果巴基斯坦家庭想继续供养生活在巴国的亲人，就必须重新考虑在英国的消费方式。

电子跨境汇款公司WorldRemit在2022年发布的一项研究显示，五分之二的英国人减少了国外汇款，另有五分之一的人表示，他们的海外亲人给他们带来了更大的压力，要求他们多汇点钱。

Speaking to Dawn, Karen Jordaan, the company’s head of the UK, said, “Pakistan and the UK have both experienced skyrocketing inflation rates, creating a weaker currency in both nations, and a decreased amount that Brits can now afford to send. British senders are changing their spending be­­haviour to continue to transfer money abroad. 52pc of respondents from our recent research reported going out to eat less, 19pc use public transport more than driving and 26pc attend fewer social events so that they can keep up with their obligations to provide financially for friends, family and loved ones overseas.”

该公司的英国负责人凯伦·乔丹（Karen Jordaan）在接受《黎明报》采访时表示：， “巴基斯坦和英国都发生了严重的通货膨胀，两国货币贬值，英国人现在可以汇款的金额也少了。英国汇款人正调整他们的消费习惯，继续向国外汇款。52%的调查受访者表示他们减少了外出用餐，19%的人从自己开车变为搭乘公共交通工具，26%的人减少了社交活动，这样他们才能继续为海外的朋友、家人和亲人提供经济援助。”

以下是巴基斯坦黎明报读者的评论：

Punisher

I’m sure that to see an Indian as the British PM everyday in itself will be a big hardship for Pakistanis in the UK.

我敢肯定，每天看着印度裔的英国首相，对在英国的巴基斯坦人来说，本身就是一个很大的困难。

Sayyar Khan

Their own fault also. Prefer to use the system and stay on charity of the government. Many work hard get education and live good lives.

这是他们自己的问题。他们喜欢钻社会体制的空子，靠着政府的福利过活。很多人努力工作，接受教育，过上了好日子。

Constantine

So these people are poor no matter in or out of the country. Very interesting, since this seems to be a characteristic problem with this community

所以这些人无论在国内还是国外都一样是穷人。这太有意思了，因为这似乎是巴基斯坦社区的典型问题了。

ing

Aren't things worse in Pakistan itself?

巴基斯坦国内的情况难道不是更糟吗？

Akram

All British people are affected. This is not limited to British Pakistanis

所有英国人的生活都受到了影响。不只局限于英国巴基斯坦人。

SayNoToPlastics

How about coming home? With the sterling assets converted to worthless rupees they will enjoy a good standard of living here .

不然你们回国吧？把英镑资产兑换成一文不值的卢比，他们可以在这里享受良好的生活水平。

M. Emad

British Pakistanis --- Low education.

英国巴基斯坦人——受教育程度低。

Kashif

Everyone knows that most Pakistanis and South Asians in general have milked the welfare system to the last drop by working for cash and showing less official income. I know of Pakistanis owning mansions and large farms in Pakistan but collecting welfare in UK

每个人都知道，大多数巴基斯坦人和南亚人接受现金支付的工作，减少申报收入，榨干了社会福利。我就知道有些巴基斯坦人在巴基斯坦拥有豪宅和大农场，但还在英国领取社会福利。

Uyghur Ahmadi

a day ago

More to come with Rishi in charge, time to go back

里希上台后还会更惨，该回老家了。

ENGR Hamid Shafiq

@M. Emad , Recession does not understand the low education.

@M. Emad ,经济衰退不会体谅教育水平的低下。

Taimur Murtaza

The UK is a market-based competition economy. Skills matter. If you can stay here because of your lack of skills, what other country in EU, Middle East, Latin America, or North America, will open its doors to take you in? None. Add to that the image issues the Green Passport has. That’s no secret. The alternative is to return to Pakistan. But if that’s what you want to do, then why did you leave in the first place? Immigrations is cracking down on Pakistanis in many countries, not just UK.

英国是一个以市场为基础的竞争经济体。有没有一技之长很重要。如果你没有技能还能留在这里，那么欧盟、中东、拉丁美洲或北美，还有哪个国家可以敞开大门接纳你呢？没有国家会接纳你的。再加上人们对绿皮护照的印象。这不是什么秘密了。另一个选择是返回巴基斯坦。但如果你想回去，当初为什么有要离开呢？很多国家都在打压巴基斯坦移民，不单是英国。

Yasir

Unlike US where most Pakistanis are highly educated and on good jobs like IT and doctors, the British Pakistanis have low education and less advancement opportunities.

美国的大多数巴基斯坦人都受过高等教育，从事IT和医生等体面工作，但英国的巴基斯坦人受教育程度低，发展机会比较少。

taliban khan ruins pak

How many of these pakistanis prefer to live on dole in UK? Quite a few than you would imagine.A lot.

这些巴基斯坦人中有多少人选择靠救济金生活在英国？数量比你想象的要多得多。

taliban khan ruins pak

The UK govt has been spoending too much for relief work during and after COVID, thus inflation was been high, especially since the Ukraine war.

英国政府在新冠疫情期间和疫情之后的救济上花费太多，因此通胀很严重，尤其在乌克兰战争爆发之后通胀更厉害了。

Yaseen

Things are not good in the UK. After BRET they open a grave for themselves. EU warned them before BRET from financial crisis and today it is so true. After Queens death whole UK economy is badly hit and now let an Indo-Pak based businessman to run the UK is the biggest mistake. He can further bring damages to The UK economy. So better for the UK to go for new elections.

英国的情况不妙啊。脱欧后他们在自掘坟墓。欧盟在英国脱欧之前就警告过他们可能会有经济危机，现在看就是箴言。女王去世后，整个英国经济受到了严重打击，现在又让印巴商人来管理英国，这是最大的错误。他可能会给英国经济带来进一步的损害。所以，英国最好重新举行大选。

Aragon

British Pakistanis choose to remain uneducated, low skilled, regressive, unaccommodating, ghetto living, unadjusted..etc so,They will always remain at the bottom of the pit. when it comes to crimes, violence, vandalism, prison population. ..etc they are at the top of the number charts.

英裔巴基斯坦人自己选择继续做文盲、没技能、自甘堕落、难沟通、生活在贫民窟、不适应环境……所以他们永远都只能被困在深渊。只有涉及犯罪、暴力、破坏公物、监狱人口时…等等统计时，他们才会出现在数字图表的顶端。

Sam

@Taimur Murtaza , Also...unlike US...is still a class based very segregated society!

@Taimur Murtaza  还有，跟美国不一样，还是一个等级森严的种族隔离社会。

A Shah

Pakistanis are the biggest claimants of benefits in the UK, lowest education and highest crime rates

巴基斯坦人是英国最大的福利领取族群，他们受教育的程度最低，犯罪率却最高。

Arsalan82

Time for Sunak to share his wealth with poor Brits.

苏纳克该把自己的钱拿出来跟英国穷人分一分了。

Ten Jee

Every community in UK has its high achievers and underclasses. Whilst everyone there feels the pinch of rising costs, the most severely affected are the white underclass, who often do not have any family support, and in too many cases single mother household. Stronger family system does help alleviate some of the pain, and the crisis is a chance for BritPaks to extend help to the wider community.

英国的每个社区都有成就斐然的人，也有下层阶级。虽然每个人都感受到了生活成本上涨的压力，但受影响最严重的是下层白人，他们通常没有任何家庭支持，而且多数情况还是单亲母亲家庭。大家庭确实有助于减轻困难，这场危机是英国巴基斯坦族群向更多社区提供帮助的好机会。

Zak

No one should forget, Rishi Sunak put UK in this situation as chancellor, now he will make it worse.

大家都别忘了，作为财政大臣，正是里希·苏纳克让英国陷入如此境地，现在他只会让情况越变越糟。

ash

@M. Emad , Shocking ignorance. There are many that are highly educated. Poverty is not restricted any particular group! You are truly a silly person.

@M.Emad，你的无知令人震惊。有很多巴基斯坦人受过高等教育。贫穷并不局限于某个特定的群体！你真是个十足的蠢货。

ash

@Aragon, Not all British Pakistanis are at the lower echelon of the society. Many are very highly educated, poverty has nothing to do with education.

@Aragon，不是所有英裔巴基斯坦人都生活在社会底层。许多人受过高等教育，贫穷与教育无关。

Hammad Qureshi

A great number of doctors and engineers are also Pakistanis. There are 15 members of parliament that are Pakistani as well as the mayor of London. Rishi Sunak is of Punjabi descent.

也有很多医生和工程师是巴基斯坦人。议会中也有15名巴基斯坦议员，还有伦敦市长也是巴基斯坦裔。苏纳克就是旁遮普人的后裔。

Arun1

Brutish Pakistanis have larger families and the govt has stopped paying child benefits after the second. Female participation in the labour force us low so family incomes are low.

巴基斯坦人的家庭规模比较大，夫妇生育第二个子女后，政府就停止支付儿童津贴了。女性的劳动参与率很低，所以家庭收入很低。

SaneMind1st

We Pakistanis, seems to believe that we only have problems and world should help us always, all times, every time. Ridiculous.

我们巴基斯坦人似乎认为只有我们有困难，全世界都应该永永远远、时时刻刻帮助我们。太荒谬了。

Boris bull

Living in London, I can add that Yes, life is affected because of inflation and energy prices. Those in lower income group are impacted heavily, it is going to become worse before it gets better and all and sundry are tightening their belts. This is the very reason UK brought in Rishi as he kept talking about tackling Inflation during his campaign unlike Liz's fairy tale

我就生活在伦敦，我可以补充说，没错，我们的生活受到了通胀和能源价格的影响。低收入群体受到了严重影响，所有人都在勒紧裤腰带。这也正是英国让里希上台的原因，因为他在竞选期间一直都在谈论如何解决通胀问题，不像利兹只会讲童话故事。

Ravi Dhar

So Pakistanis are not only miserable in Pakistan, they are miserable in UK too.

这么说，巴基斯坦人不单单在巴基斯坦过着苦日子，他们在英国的日子也不好过呀。

Samir

American Pakistanis are hard workers

美国的巴基斯坦人都很勤奋。

Harish

No worries. He will resign within a month in office.

别担心。他上台一个月内就会辞职。

Maha

@M. Emad, education never brings fruits. I see even uneducated farmers driving Porsche. Bill gates wasn't highly educated but he hires thousands of PHDs to work for him.

@M。教育是不会有结果的。我见过没受过教育的农民也开着保时捷。比尔·盖茨没有受过高等教育，但他却雇佣了数千名博士为他工作。