The so-called ‘city of lights’, Karachi has been going through a rough time for more than a decade now even though it continues to be the economic hub of Pakistan. The city is losing its charm fast because nobody is willing to own it the way it deserves to be owned.
All sorts of ‘authorities’ can be seen playing the blame game all the time, whether it is about the city’s budget, poor infrastructure, garbage-dumping, water scarcity, electricity loadshedding, increasing number of beggars, spike in street crimes, or lack of public transportation. Whatever you raise a finger about, there are always multiple ‘authorities’ eager to start the blame game. Where does the buck stop? No one seems to know.
The beauty of the city has been ruined by the ‘authorities’. The ongoing monsoon season and all that it means for the city year after year is simply a reminder of how wrong things happen to be in the city.
Karachi is the largest city in the country, with an estimated population of over 20 million. It is understood that such a large population requires more water and other amenities.
While the city faces severe water shortages, it is mindboggling to note that the tanker mafia has been doing a roaring business by charging more than the usual and it seems there is no one to stop them.
Besides, poor sanitation, open sewage drains, overflowing gutters, and heaps of garbage have made the metropolis a miserable place. The Sindh Solid Waste Management Board and the District Municipal Corporations (DMCs) are mainly responsible for the collection of solid waste. But it seems the authorities and local bodies have failed to do their job as overflowing trash bins can be seen everywhere; on the footpaths, near hospitals, schools, parks, and even under bridges.
On the other hand, people in Karachi get exhausted while commuting on a daily basis owing to shortage of public transport which makes commute a challenging task. Adding to the problem are potholes, uneven surfaces and battered roads. There are many roads that need to be reconstruc-ted, but we often see newly-repaired or constructed ones getting destroyed within weeks.
The city hardly has any housing colonies for the poor working class, while numerous housing schemes have been built for the affluent. There are many lavish societies for the civil and military elite, but, unfortunately, the poor has remained at the mercy of the landgrabbers.
The city feeds around 150,000 beggars every day. These beggars not only steal motorcycle parts, petrol, and side mirrors of cars, they make places crowded and uncomfortable for the public.
Rehabilitation centres should be built for the drug addicts and beggars, where not only they get a proper place to live, but are taught skills to help earn a sustainable living once they get back out on the streets. There is a dire need for making them a valuable asset of society to support the crippling economy.
The local, provincial and federal governments must pay heed to the pleas of the city-dwellers and stop giving this forsaken city a cold shoulder.
Collective and immediate measures should be taken to resolve these issues. Karachi can and will be revived again if only the government and the citizens pledge to own it.
SIDRA IQBAL
KARACHI
