Karachi’s city life

One often wonders as to what constitutes a big city; is it the number of people living in an area that make it big or is it the facilities available in an area that make it famous. Karachi for many Pakistanis is a place where they can make their ends meet; it is a place where people who work hard can find jobs-all in all a place where people make their dreams come true. For many of the people living in the rural and underdeveloped areas of Pakistan visiting or staying in Karachi is an ultimate dream; the dream to see the city of lights surrounded by sea and perhaps places where they can have fun with their family.

Karachi over the years has lost this image, thanks to the chaotic security and political situation. It has been plagued with all sorts of societal crimes bringing a bad name to the city and tarnishing the 60 years old status and name it had made. Once labeled as the ‘city of lights’, the city at times has no light for nearly 24 hours; the water that surrounded the city has also not been spared and made to mix with the city’s untreated sewage.

Now let us come down to the places where one can visit and enjoy. Whenever one talks about Karachi one of the first places that comes in mind is the Quaid’s mausoleum, the final resting place of our beloved founder. Over the years this place despite undergoing a massive renovation and uplift project has lost its attractiveness with the lack of maintenance and security in and around the Mausoleum. The videos on internet, newspaper reports of kidnappings and rapes have helped in turning away people from coming and seeing the founder’s mausoleum.

The other place that comes in mind is of beaches. The shore line along the city that is referred to as the beach have emerged to be a blessing by God for us with people reaching out there and enjoying the water with their loved ones; thinking little about the problems, letting go of all the troubles and relaxing amongst the sea breeze and the noise of the waves.

Sadly, the authorities have slowly started to work on this to take away the happiness from the people. Surrounding the beach route with all possible disputed areas has created hurdles for everyone to go out there and relax. Unlike in other countries where the beach is kept separate from the city buzz, our smart boards have done quite the opposite, forcing people to enjoy near the sea where the entire city’s sewage end.

To top it off the frequent uproar of target killings have made it worst for the city to live up to its expectations. With people fearing for their lives and staying indoors the city of lights is turning into the city of darkness. All that one can see around is gloominess and sadness for one reason or the other. I am not any politician or anything but what I see and hear people around me saying is quite disappointing, the distance between the ethnic communities is at its peak and if nothing is done soon the city of light might not remain a city instead turn into a massive graveyard.

AFFAN H KHAN

Karachi