Daily Times

This past week in the city of Karachi has been extremely hellish. Karachi received more rain this year than ever recorded in its history. At first the usual places flooded (as it does each year) and of course came the slew of pics with people playing the usual political blame game. But as the thunderstorms hit in continuation, almost everybody had a story of some type of flooding and disaster control in their homes. For those trying to go to work or even go about ordinary daily life,itbecame a far more life-threatening state of existence. And it was in this past week one realized that the need of the hour was to establish an emergency policy in handling this situation between all authorities and stakeholders. It was here that thoughts occurred of whetherour disaster-ridden city could become a great example of a cooperative state; an alliance to be formed between all parties running the province as well as the city- just in order to save it.

Easier said than done? Perhaps not but optimism has existed before and led to many incredible things historically. Even foolish some would say. However, the seemingly impossible was achieved when we became an independent country (and have survived). As Pakistanis, we do believe anything can happen; so why not a “joint venture” of a sort between all stakeholders.

The thing to always remember is that this city, just like any other, is a living, breathing land of interconnected networks. Settlements, housing societies, trade hubs, roads and life that has rooted itself deep into the city layout and into the map of Pakistan. There also remains the situation of the encroachments which has halted many development plans several times over. Whether you term them as encroachments or settlements – whatever term you give, there are people who are living by the thousands every few blocks for decades. Living on what they now assume is their land with the history of their families well entrenched into the soil. One cannot just start breaking them down without a plan which will affect the livelihood and shelter of millions. City planners will have a task before them. And the next step of moving them elsewhere – but where? Andcan this be even done? Only a team which will be on par with each other at every step of the process would be able to decide this massive restructuring. A restructuring that could make history if achieved. The discussion of re-settlement itself is a very sensitive topic. The other purposeful question would be that of the budgets.

This “mess” we have found ourselves in will have to be cleaned. The situation of interconnectivity is not just literal but also applies to the relationship between both provincial and Federal governance. A strategic balance (and planning) with all those in power must be obtained.

On another note, a clean-up of storm water drains is yes, a brilliant venture as was recently done, but Karachi is bigger than just this. This was a wonderful step but with the emergencysituation declared one must face the hard facts. The entire sprawling city of millions has intricacies that go much further than this one thing. The cleanup we are speaking about will need to take place- not as a future project in bits and pieces but over several years and on a mass scale aiming to change the face of a living, breathing city.

The situation of interconnectivity is not just literal but also applies to the relationship between both provincial and Federal governance. A strategic balance (and planning) with all those in power must be obtained

The novel coronavirus has not gone away and with the urban flooding come other venomous diseases which will wipe down the population further if not curbed. Our resources are already strained with medical aid re-organized and focused on the virus. If that sounds brutal, we need to understand the harsh reality of things as they are. Photo-ops of clean ups are wonderful, but a diligent process of city planning is due for the citizens of this land. Not only due but it is also owed.

All parties have had the time, money, power and prestige to do something constructive. The question remains, can they utilize the brilliant minds that exist in all and actually prove to the citizens of the nation that they are willing to cooperate in order to streamline the processes to start regenerating Karachicity.

The suggestions that have come forth have been from people who have seen this city grow over the years. One suggestion was that a systemic network of drainage would need to be planned with drainage carrying water to the sea. Another one was the recycling of this rainwater for a city suffering from acute water shortages. Can the experts come up with the solutions that are put into action? The focus on an Interlinking network of drainages will be a gargantuan task for anybody and part of immense precision planning. Somebody wrote online that Mohenjo-Daro, an ancient civilization, had a better drainage system than Karachi. It’s almost funny if I wasn’t living here and experiencing the pain of watching the city go down like this. The other sadness is that the line is actually true in the year 2020.

For those who feel this is a repeat of a much-discussed area; the point of writing on repeat is that somewhere, somebody out there hears this. So that they understand that the people of the city and those in support of either government are very concerned about the severity of the nature of this singular issue. This by no means is a criticism of any government previous or present, but the request that it is time to look at Karachi’s urban planning with the acute emergency it needs and start the process. It is here, the parties will need to wade into some sort of cooperative state with due respect and alliances that would need to be made.

The writer is known for her articles on socio-cultural impact