Shehri-Citizens for Better Environment is conducting a study in three goths of Gadap Town to gauge the basic infrastructure requirements in the area and make changes by bringing up the issues in parliament.
“It is an assessment of needs for the people living in the area,” said Farhan Anwar, the World Bank’s consultant for urban-sector reforms and a Shehri volunteer.
The study will be conducted in collaboration with the BRAC University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Karachi is expanding without a plan and the worst affected are the rural areas of the city. Anwar explained that Gadap is a “borderless area” with lots of vacant land “that is under a constant threat of being encroached on by criminals.” Resources in the town are depleting rapidly due to the political strife, the worsening law and order situation and the inter-city migration.
“For a long time now, the people of Gadap are facing acute water and sanitation problems. There is no infrastructure and union councils have proved to be a complete failure. This leaves people with nothing at the end of the day.”
Anwar said the project was aimed at diagnosing the problem with specific attention on the people who are most affected. It also wants to introduce sustainable planning reforms with the help of the government.
With a population of mixed communities and ethnicities, there is inequality in the social fabric of the area. “Inequalities on the basis of religion, sect and ethnicity are the worst in Gadap. There are only a handful of people who are making decisions for everyone. People are disconnected from the local bodies. It may sound oft-repeated but until and unless people are involved, reforms, in any way or form, are useless.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2011.
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