KARACHI: Calling for relocation of the people facing displacement as a result of an anti-encroachment drive to alternative places, a civil society group on Saturday demanded that the government hold local government elections immediately, introduce an empowered city government and carry out a correct census to show Karachi’s true population.

The current situation following heavy rains in the city prompted a meeting organised by the Shehri Awami Mahaz (SAM) at the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) House in which social and political activists, workers and human rights bodies were all present for a brainstorming session to come up with a joint strategy on how to cope with the poor infrastructure and other issues brought up by the rains.

Nasir Mansoor of the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) counted the issues such as urban flooding, power breakdowns, low gas pressure, etc, on his fingertips.

“Karachi is the seventh largest city in the world. It earns 25 per cent of the GDP for the country and 75pc of the GDP for Sindh. Unfortunately, the census was done wrongly for Karachi and thus there was less money set aside in the budget for the city,” he said.

Pointing out more of the city’s woes, he said that there were some 64 drains in Karachi and all were blocked and encroached upon. Despite the city being without power, the K-Electric had raised the price of electricity too, he added.

‘Karachi can earn enough to pay for its own uplift and it shouldn’t be looking towards centre for aid packages’

“This city has never got a proper city government. Sectors such as education, health, roads, transport, water supply and drainage, policing and infrastructure development should be the responsibility of the city government as envisaged in the Constitution of Pakistan,” he said. “Pakistan’s provinces together form the federation here. But the provinces are not given importance. Handing over Karachi to the federal government is not going to do anything for this city,” he said.

“Some 60pc of Karachi doesn’t even come under the city government. There are cantonments here also, which are also not that great in the area of providing services either. Then when the people there protest for basic amenities and services, for which they also give taxes, there are FIRs filed against them,” he said.

‘Karachi can pay for its own development’

He said that Karachi can earn enough to pay for its own development. It should not be looking towards aid packages from the federal government. It just needs a proper city government and goodwill that many political parties who win elections here fail to give to it.

“We need a proper city government with representatives of all people and stakeholders who really care. This Karachi is a living entity. Treat it as such,” he said, adding that the cantonments here need to be dissolved, KE needs to be given to the city government, and the issue of encroachments needs to be solved by providing people proper alternative dwellings.

He also raised the issue of dumping harmful chemical waste in drains.

Maria Ismail, a journalist from Lyari, said that the people they vote for turn their backs on them as soon as they win seats.

Architect Arshad Baloch said that they visited several factories in Malir due to which the indigenous people of Malir were getting skin infections.

“I have written to environmental protection agencies to activate them into stopping this hazard. They managed to have some effect as well. But now I am getting threats,” he said.

Jan Baloch said that he was originally from Lyari but lived in Defence now.

“I told the people of DHA, all very nice and well-educated people, to learn to stand up for themselves. But they feel awkward doing so. They are too polite. Politeness is not going to help in this scenario,” he said. “We need to make people aware of their rights and to stand up for their rights,” he added.

Checks and balances needed on PM’s package

Karamat Ali of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) said that it was most important that everyone took part wholeheartedly in improving their city.

He also said that it was sad how so many people were not even counted in the census.

“We are all Pakistani but all have different backgrounds and circumstances. We need representation of all in the city government because we all live here together,” he said.

“It is also true,” he said. “That during election time we don’t take any interest in who is running and the manifestos and past work of parties and leaders. Many of us don’t even vote and sit at home on election day and this is the result of that,” he said.

“Don’t forget that the Rs1,100 billion relief package announced by the prime minister for rebuilding your city is coming from your pocket. It is your money. Even if it is a loan from the World Bank or anywhere it is still coming from you. You will be paying this debt,” he said. “So there should be checks and balances. Do say when you see something wrong being done with your money,” he added.

Abdul Mutalib Shah, a resident of Malir, wondered how a common man can bring about a change with strong political parties controlling things here.

A.B. Rathore from Lyari said that all city governments were against the Sindhis getting jobs here. “Demography is also an issue of Karachi,” he said. “Karachi is broken into areas for different ethnicities and all lack the spirit of ownership for the entire city,” he added.

Gul Rehman, a trade unionist, said that there are several NGOs and unions here which needed to join hands to raise a united voice and form a united front to change Karachi and make it a liveable city.

Shams Tabrez said that when the citizens of Karachi ask for their rights they do it apologetically.

“Why can’t the people assert themselves? Why do they have to beg for their rights? Begging will not give you anything. It will only make you a beggar,” he said.

Finally, Nasir Mansoor read out some recommendations that he said they still need to sit down and look at such as relocating encroachers by giving alternative places to them to live or carry out their means of earning, providing a proper public transport system to the people of Karachi, carrying out a correct census in order to show Karachi’s true population and calling local government elections immediately.

The meeting was also attended by Zehra Khan of Home-Based Women Workers Federation, Khaliq Zardgan, Rehman Baloch, Aqib Hussain, M. Sharif, Comrade Azhar Jameel, Jannat Khan, Sajjad Zahir of Progressive Writers Association, Zubairur Rahman, Saira Feroz, Shabnam Azma and Saeeda Khatoon.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2020