Stepping stone to greener pastures

Karachi is a thriving metropolis, pulsating with hectic activity, traffic jams, power cuts, water shortage etc. Yet despite its problems it exudes a certain magnetism which attracts people from every nook and cranny of the country.

Being the commercial hub of Pakistan, it is the first step towards greener pastures for millions of the country’s workforce. Workers from all the four provinces come to the city with hopes of a better life, seeking work and job opportunities, while some set up small businesses here. Many of these people are transients who eventually move on or return to their homes. But there are those who stay on to eke out a living.

Unfortunately, not all who come to the city get what they desire and after some time, end up on the streets doing menial jobs or become vendors, unable to find a proper place to live and make the footpaths of Karachi their nightly abode.

Karachi is home to the homeless and by some estimates, more than 500,000 people either sleep on the footpaths or have makeshift dwellings. The most prominent areas for these people are usually in open spaces such as road islands, near railway tracks or in under-construction buildings. Some of the homeless in the city really improvise and have set up their homes in gigantic sewer or water pipes that provide adequate shelter for them even in the monsoon season.

Public parks – particularly Arambagh and Jehangir Park – are also areas where the homeless dwell. Other favourite haunts are beneath major bridges, road islands and Cantonment railway station, where charpoys are rented out to both the weary traveller as well as those just bedding down for the night.

The areas around shrines, especially the Abdullah Shah Ghazi Mazar in Clifton, are also frequented by homeless people.

Drug addicts, pickpockets and petty criminals are all part of the homeless flock choosing the footpath to slumber for the night.

Unlike Kolkata, which has more than a million people on the streets, the homeless population is not too alarming here in Karachi. However, with growing inflation, shortage of food, abject poverty and unemployment, the number of homeless people will increase manifold unless remedial measures are taken.—Syed Ali Anwer

Impurities at hand

After a very long time, many events appeared on the city’s cultural scene. A wide range of programmes – right from serious theatre, musical evenings, festivals and dance performances – to poetry recitals, film screenings, literary sittings and art exhibitions marked the calendar over the last couple of months.

No doubt this gave a breath of fresh air to Karachians who were surrounded by gloom and doom. For many of us, all this is very promising. However, looking at the harsh realities of life – street crime, gang warfare, joblessness, the food crisis – some art critics argue that hardly any cultural events or art shows depict the true picture of our society.

While the government, undermining the importance of art subjects, focussed its attention on the promotion of science and technology during the last many years, the few art institutes functioning in the private sector, too, seem to be minting money from the well-off in the name of art.

Consequently, the so-called art and cultural activities have become the hobby of a few, belonging to the upper economic strata of society. Perhaps this is the reason why we find the events organised off and on in this city irrelevant to a large segment of the population. For instance, one does not find serious theatre productions on Lyari gang warfare or, for that matter, on the price hike.

Not much different is the case on the literary front, where only a few writers and poets are making efforts to promote healthy literary values. But what matters more these days are the forums which have political backing. It seems as if it does not make much difference what kind of literature is being produced, but which group or lobby a writer or a poet belongs to. The result is obvious: literature suffers while literary figures get promoted.

There are compromises on all fronts. And it is for the writers and artists to pinpoint the gaps and divides, while political will is required for change in the literal sense.—Asrar Hussain

Into the abyss

It seems a certain group of Karachians – in the guise of vigilantes –have assumed the role of judge, jury and executioner, meting out ‘quick fix justice’ to criminals on the spot.

The horrifying incident in one of the city’s crowded areas of three robbers attempting to commit daylight robbery in one of the flats and trying to escape and eventually being caught, savagely beaten to a pulp, shot at and if that was not enough burnt alive before an excited crowd, should be a clarion call to our rulers that all does not bode well with regard to law and order.

An incident of similar savagery and brutality in which six people were burnt alive in a lawyer’s office speaks volumes of how deep we have sunk into the abyss of degradation, callousness and moral turpitude.

The rule of law is paramount in any civilised society for without it, there is chaos and anarchy and although the anger, frustration and bitterness of Karachians with regard to rampant crime in the city is understandable, it is not their prerogative to take the law into their own hands.

Abject poverty, unemployment, rampant corruption and a warped criminal justice system are some of the root causes inherent in the social fabric and until and unless drastic measures are taken, Karachi is headed for utter chaos.

These incidents should serve as an eye-opener to our guardians of the law who vow “to protect and serve,” for the malaise is now affecting the psyche of the common citizen, who seems to be losing his sense and judgment of moral values.

I do not profess to be a religious person but one prayer is constantly on my lips: “God help this nation.”—Shahbaz

Compiled by Syed Hassan Ali

Email: karachian@dawn.com

Power crisis solutions

Sir,
Everyone in Karachi is aware of the energy crisis. But no one thinks of the solutions. Hydroelectricity is the cheapest source of energy and its generation does not affect the environment. But the construction of dams may take long. I am approaching you with some alternative solutions.

Many innovative programmes around the world now make it possible to have environmentally-friendly energy sources. We have enough coal reserves, so an interim solution could be to opt for energy from coal. But this is not advisable for the long-term as burning coal causes a great deal of pollution.

Another solution is oil. But oil produces high levels of sulphur and other gasses, while fast increasing oil prices will increase the production cost.

Nuclear power is another option. While nuclear plants don’t cause air pollution, they do create radioactive waste. And nuclear power can be very expensive. Natural gas is a cheaper source and is practically in use in the country for more than 10 years. I haven’t read its bad effects yet.

Power from the sun and wind is a sustainable way to meet our energy needs and protect the environment and public health. Wind generators can be installed on the rooftops of tall apartments and office complexes. Solar panels can also be installed on the roofs of houses, factories etc.

HAIDER JAFARI

Gulshan-i-Iqbal

Chaotic crossings

Sir,

Most pedestrians face untold hardships when crossing the road at traffic signals, as when the signal turns red, none of the vehicles stop at the zebra crossing.

They slowly move on to the zebra crossing and block the pedestrians’ way. Meanwhile, the green signal appears and the pedestrians have to wait for a long amount of time to cross the road.

The most dangerous traffic violators are motorcyclists and minibuses. They don’t have any respect and disobey the traffic rules because the traffic cops do not take any action.

Exemplary punishment for violators of the law should be implemented, otherwise there is no way out for Karachians to cross the road without any hindrance.

P.K. ABDUL KADIR

Karachi

NBP complaints

Sir,

The undersigned, along with my colleagues, visited the National Bank of Pakistan PIDC branch recently at 9.10am for encashment of cheques. Out of the 50 or 60 employees of the branch, only 12 officials were present on their seats, while no tokens were available at the counter till 9.20am.

By that time, about 30 to 35 people gathered in the branch and were using abusive language against the bank officials for their poor performance and gross negligence. The official responsible for clearing the cheques entered the bank at 9.40am, whereas the entries of the other officials were in progress till our leaving the branch.

This branch is located opposite the Sindh Chief Minister’s House in a prime area of the metropolis, where the poor public has to miserably face such problems almost daily.

The federal finance minister and the NBP president are requested to pay surprise visits and take stern action against the irregular and unpunctual officials of this branch in order to provide better service to its clients.

PRO BONO PUBLICO

Affectees of CM Secretariat & Governor’s House

Karachi

Name change

Sir,

Please refer to the letter of Mr Sharif Bhaiji published in Dawn of April 28, 2008, about the name change of Siraj-ud-Daula Road to Abul Tawab Road.

The road was named after a historical hero and freedom fighter. We request the CDGK/Sindh government to review the decision immediately.

USMAN AZIZ, IRFANUL

HASSAN & JAWAID HANIF

Karachi

Sir,

On May 3, 2008 at 9.30am I went to the NBP City Courts branch to deposit court rent challans amounting to Rs4,980. I handed over Rs5000 to the concerned cashier. After a few minutes, the cashier announced that the given amount was Rs4,900, while it was given to him after strict counting.

It is observed that the concerned cashier is always ready to quarrel with most of the customers. In this branch, the cash of customers/depositors is counted behind a wooden barrier, and this lends fuel to the suspicion of mala fide activities.

This is not a matter of Rs100; it is a matter of the prestige of the National Bank of Pakistan.I hope an enquiry will be conducted to investigate the aforementioned complaints at the earliest.

AFFECTEE

Karachi

Unjust penalty

Sir,

My daughters are students of class X and VIII at a private school. The school has stopped the elder daughter from appearing in class-X’s practical examination, which is going to be held at the school on June 16.

Interestingly, the reason given by the school for this rough attitude is the non-payment of school fees of my younger daughter.

We have assured the school that we will pay the fees as soon as possible as we are passing through a financial crisis. But the school refuses to change its decision.

My daughters have been studying in the said school for the last four years and their school fees have always been paid regularly. By looking at their previous record, the school can show some patience.

On the other hand, it is absolute injustice to punish one daughter for the other.I, therefore, request the Board of Secondary Education Karachi to look into the matter and explain if it is possible to stop a child from appearing in the practical examination when the school fee of her younger sister is not paid.

MRS BUTT

KECHS

city@dawn.com