Renowned Pakistani actress Asma Abbas has expressed her deep sorrow over the prevalent societal attitudes towards domestic helpers, sharing a personal story that left her disappointed.
In a recent vlog, the actress recounted an incident she witnessed at a friend’s house, which highlighted a troubling interaction between her friend’s children and their maid’s children.
She explained that her friend’s children broke their piggy bank, finding around 10,000 to 15,000 rupees inside. The children’s grandfather advised them to share the money with the maid’s children, who were also present.
However, Asma Abbas described the “heartbreaking” scene that followed. The friend’s children went to the maid’s children and taunted them, saying, “You are poor, this money is mine. You people have never seen this much money, even your father has probably never seen this much.”
Expressing her sadness over this behavior, Abbas questioned the values being taught to the new generation. “How are we raising our children today?” she asked. “What is the point of so much education if our children do not learn to respect domestic helpers?”
She contrasted this by giving an example from her own family, noting that her daughter, Zara Noor, has been teaching her 1.5-year-old granddaughter to call their helper “Baji” (older sister) and to never speak to them in a loud voice.
Abbas concluded by placing the responsibility firmly on the adults, saying, “It’s not the children’s fault; it’s the fault of their parents and elders.” She emphasized that these helpers make our lives easier and “deserve respect… they are like our family.”
