THIS is with reference to the article ‘Mapping cities’ (Sept 7), which rightly blamed the builders for bypassing all rules and encroaching cities. Karachi and other urban cities now depict a picture of concrete jungle, which is ultimately harming natural resources and causing cultural degradation.

As we approach 2030, which is the cut-off year for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Pakistan lags behind with respect to all the SDGs. SDGs like sustainable cities (Goal 11), gender equality (Goal 5), and partnership for the goals (Goal 17), can be achieved to some extent if the government seriously works on them. Other goals, like poverty, zero hunger, sanitation, health, education and others, are far away from achievement due to the non-serious attitude on the part of successive federal and provincial governments.

The said article asked the universities to play a role in mapping the cities. The fact is that the universities can only push the government and become a partner in generating relevant maps of the cities. It is not for the universities or civil society organisations to execute the job.

Aijaz Ali Khuwaja
Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2024