A city nobody owns

It is Karachi’s misfortune that while it has offered livelihood, shelter, fame and fortune to millions, but in reality other than claims of ownership, nobody really owns it. How else can all those who deliver fiery speeches, have been in power for over two decades, explain that although water is available through hydrants, but strangely its supply through pipelines is very rare and seldom does it flow through taps in houses. However, if you can afford to pay few thousands there are Tankers which will deliver water at your doorstep, provided you can afford it and have storage capacity. Over 800 poor citizens have died due dehydration, while politicians and paid public office holders have delivered emotional speeches, blaming each other, just like they did in 2012 when 289 poor laborers were burned alive, only to be forgotten and not a single person held responsible.

Water Tanker Mafia of Karachi originated from DHA in 80s with connivance of few corrupt officials has now spread to all parts of city, having assumed status of tax free Rs10 billion illegal business, which has flourished in every military and civil government that has been in power for over two decades. In Karachi and interior Sind, there are not only ghost schools, but also ghost employees and ghost projects that exist only on paper. The sad reality is that Karachi and rest of Pakistan has become an economic transit stopover to make quick money, and other than mere rhetoric nothing concrete has been done to address basic issues by those who hold or have held political power, because most of them have abandoned not only this city but the country also, having adopted either foreign nationalities, or residential status in other countries, where their assets and families are located.

MALIK T ALI

Lahore