Islamabad mall’s ‘poverty-shaming poster’ draws criticism on Twitter

Islamabad’s Centaurus Mall’s poverty-shaming poster has drawn severe criticism on Twitter, while the social media users have called for an apology by the mall’s administration.

The poster posted on the entrance of the mall having the caption “Poor, but not irresponsible” feels the most disgusting copy written ever. It fails to deliver whether it was a ‘public service message’ intended to teach affluent mall visitors to learn from the lower-income class to wear masks in public.

This is posted at the @Centaurusoff mall resident entrance at islamabad. Is this supposed to be a joke? pic.twitter.com/qojf6eyTDX

— Abdul Moiz Jaferii (@Jaferii) November 12, 2021

The poster’s messaging, which is disturbingly callous, was noticed by various politicians, writers and other Twitter users who voiced their anger at its classist tone. PPP Senator Sherry Rehman called out the “poverty-trashing caption”.

” Unbelievable! “Poor, but not irresponsible!” goes the dehumanising, classist, poverty-trashing caption. Marie Antoinette has finally been outdone,” she wrote on Twitter.

Unbelievable! “Poor, but not irresponsible!” goes the dehumanising, classist, poverty-trashing caption. Marie Antoinette has finally been outdone. https://t.co/FfkT9NplJ2

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) November 12, 2021

Former finance minister Miftah Ismail was also left in disgust.

Sick https://t.co/dYgeNDhMFs

— Miftah Ismail (@MiftahIsmail) November 12, 2021

Reactions continue to pour in on social media:

Disgusting ! @Centaurusoff needs to apologise and take this off immediately. You don’t need to shit on these people if you want to teach your ‘rich’ customers a msg. https://t.co/SnJCkctkBM

— Sara. (@BauhatSara) November 12, 2021