As schools reopen across London this September, Pakistani families are juggling more than just uniforms and textbooks. Rising food prices, energy bills, and transport costs are reshaping household budgets, forcing parents to make tough choices about how they spend and save. For many, the excitement of a new term is tempered by financial anxiety.
Everyday Adjustments
In East London, A., a father of three, explains how he is managing. “I cut back on meat to once a week. The children don’t complain, but I feel it. Before, we never thought twice about chicken or lamb. Now, every purchase is calculated.”
Nearby, S., a mother of two secondary school students, has started packing homemade lunches instead of giving her children money for canteen meals. “It saves a few pounds each day. It adds up over the month. Still, I wish they could enjoy the same things as their friends.”
Families across London share similar stories — budgeting apps, supermarket loyalty cards, bulk buying, and fewer outings. Parents admit these measures feel necessary, not optional.
School Costs Add Up
Uniforms and supplies are another strain. Prices for blazers, shoes, and PE kits have climbed. “I spent over £200 just on uniforms this month,” says M., a single parent in Ilford. “I delayed paying one bill to cover it. You can’t send your child to school without the right clothes, so other expenses have to wait.”
Stationery and digital tools, now essential for homework, also stretch budgets. Some parents buy refurbished laptops instead of new ones, while others rely on community donations or second-hand exchanges.
Cultural Expectations
Within Pakistani households, the start of term carries cultural expectations beyond the classroom. Parents want their children to excel academically, often investing in tutoring. Yet the cost of private lessons has risen.
“I stopped maths tuition for my eldest,” admits F., from Southall. “It was £25 per hour — we just couldn’t continue. I help him myself now, but it’s not the same.”
For many parents, this creates guilt. “Our parents sacrificed so much when they came here,” says H., in Walthamstow. “We want to give our children everything. Cutting back on their education feels like failing them.”
Community Support
Community groups are stepping in. Local mosques and charities are offering free school supplies and uniform exchanges. “We collected donated blazers and trousers, cleaned them, and gave them to families,” explains K., a volunteer. “The demand was higher than ever this year.”
Food banks also report more visits from working families. “It’s not just the unemployed anymore,” says one organiser in East London. “Parents with jobs come to us because their pay can’t stretch to cover rent, bills, and food.”
Children Notice the Strain
While parents often try to shield children, young people are aware of the changes. “I see Mum checking prices carefully,” says L., a Year 10 student. “I don’t ask for pocket money anymore. I know things are hard.”
Teachers confirm they notice the impact in classrooms. “Some children come without proper lunch,” says a teacher in Tower Hamlets. “Others feel embarrassed when they don’t have the latest stationery or shoes. It affects confidence.”
The Bigger Picture
For Pakistani families, the cost-of-living crisis is layered on top of broader responsibilities. Many continue to send remittances to relatives in Pakistan, even when finances in the UK are tight. “If I stop sending money, they can’t manage back home,” says N., a minicab driver. “So I cut from my own budget here.”
This balancing act makes their situation especially difficult — caught between obligations in Britain and expectations from extended family abroad.
Resilience and Hope
Despite the pressure, families show resilience. Parents talk about working extra shifts, children learning to appreciate savings, and neighbours sharing resources. “We are adjusting,” says R., a shopkeeper. “This is not the first struggle our community has faced.”
For many, faith provides strength. “Hardship comes, but it also passes,” says S., a grandmother helping with childcare to reduce costs. “We support each other. That is how we manage.”
اردو خلاصہ
ستمبر 2023 میں جب لندن میں نیا تعلیمی سال شروع ہو رہا ہے، پاکستانی خاندان شدید مہنگائی کے دباؤ میں ہیں۔ کھانے پینے کی اشیاء، توانائی کے بل اور ٹرانسپورٹ کے اخراجات بڑھنے سے گھریلو بجٹ سخت متاثر ہو رہے ہیں۔
روزمرہ اخراجات: کئی والدین گوشت اور ریستوران کھانے کم کر رہے ہیں، بچوں کے لیے گھروں سے لنچ پیک کر رہے ہیں اور چھوٹے چھوٹے طریقوں سے بچت کر رہے ہیں۔
اسکول کے اخراجات: یونیفارم، جوتے اور پی ای کٹس کے اخراجات کئی سو پاؤنڈ تک پہنچ گئے ہیں۔ کچھ والدین بلوں کو مؤخر کر کے یونیفارم خریدتے ہیں۔
تعلیمی دباؤ: ٹیوشن کے اخراجات بڑھنے سے کئی والدین نجی پڑھائی بند کر رہے ہیں۔ اس سے ان پر ذہنی دباؤ ہے کیونکہ وہ اپنے بچوں کو بہترین تعلیم دلانا چاہتے ہیں۔
کمیونٹی کا تعاون: مساجد اور چیریٹیز اسکول یونیفارم اور سامان عطیہ کر رہی ہیں، جبکہ فوڈ بینکس پر جانے والے خاندانوں کی تعداد بڑھ رہی ہے۔
بچوں کی آگاہی: بچے بھی حالات سمجھتے ہیں اور اپنی خواہشات کم کر لیتے ہیں۔ اس کا اثر ان کے اعتماد پر پڑتا ہے۔
ڈائسپورا ذمہ داریاں: کئی خاندان پاکستان میں رشتہ داروں کو پیسے بھیجتے رہتے ہیں، جس سے ان کے بجٹ پر مزید دباؤ بڑھتا ہے۔
اس سب کے باوجود پاکستانی خاندان حوصلہ دکھا رہے ہیں۔ اضافی کام، باہمی تعاون اور صبر کے ساتھ وہ حالات کا سامنا کر رہے ہیں۔ ان کے لیے تعلیم، خاندان اور کمیونٹی بدستور اولین ترجیحات ہیں۔
