Khawaja Saleem shares Heartbreaking Tale of his Difficult Life

Celebrated actor Khawaja Saleem detailed the difficulty he experienced in his life.

The Pakistani entertainment industry has often been criticised for its neglect of artists.

The lack of special allowances and government support for artists in the country is a pressing issue.

This neglect has left many veteran artists to endure lives of poverty and destitution, especially when they get older.

A recent example of this unfortunate reality is the plight of Khawaja Saleem.

Due to complications from diabetes, he developed gangrene in his foot, resulting in the amputation of his toes.

Currently, Khawaja is residing at his daughter’s house, having sold his own house, car, bikes, and even his acting awards.

This was the only way to cope with the financial strain brought on by his condition.

The situation for Khawaja deteriorated to the point where he had to liquidate his assets just to survive.

He revealed: “I do not need charity I swear. I just need the money back from the tax I have paid for 45 years.

“I get injections every day that cost Rs. 16,000.

“Two of my toes have been amputated. It cost 12 to 14 lakhs.”

Khawaja shared that despite his dire circumstances, no one came forward to offer assistance.

He said: “My electricity bill is 60,000 rupees. How do I pay that?”

His experience, unfortunately, is not unique. Khawaja Saleem is just one example of how artists are treated in the country.

In his prime, Khawaja Saleem was a prominent figure in the Pakistani entertainment industry.

He contributed significantly to its development and international reputation.

However, like many of his peers, he found little support once his career declined.

Khawaja’s plight has sparked conversations about the need for better support systems for artists in Pakistan.

A user wrote: “The lack of institutional support and recognition for the contributions of artists is an evident issue that needs to be addressed to prevent similar situations in the future.”

Another added: “The story calls for urgent action from the government and cultural institutions to ensure that artists are not left to fend for themselves in their old age.

“Especially when they are so sick.”

One said: “There should be a system that whenever their dramas are aired on TV or YouTube etc. they should get some royalty.”

Another commented: “Seniors are not treated nicely.

“They are the ones who deserve the most respect and comfort and they are the ones who suffer the most in old age because no one wants to see old people on screens.”