Our city’s katchi abadis only sprung up after partition
Experts and Karachi residents mull over rapid urbanisation.
KARACHI:
Partition had a dramatic impact on the landscape of Karachi. Middle-class Hindus migrated to India and thousands of Muslims coming to Pakistan found homes in Karachi. The population of the city increased drastically and for the first time katchi abadis or unplanned settlements sprung up.
“In 1947 there were no katchi abadis, but in 1985 the number was 538,” according to Saiban’s Tasneem Siddiqui who was speaking at a seminar on urbanisation as part of Jashan-e-Faiz celebrations at the KMC Sports Complex on Sunday. “Now 55 per cent of Karachi lives in such settlements.” In 1947, the population of Karachi was just 0.4 million (today it is closer to 18 million) and it was regarded as one of the best cities in all of Asia. “Port workers lived in Lyari, and Ranchore Lines was populated mostly by middle-class people, particularly those who had served in the British Army during World War II,” said Siddiqui. “Saddar was relatively affluent and was in the use of government officials, and the Parsi and Amil colonies were sparsely populated. The municipal corporation that looked after Karachi did its job efficiently and administered the city very well.”
Writer and poet Attiya Dawood lamented the fact that rapid urbanisation in Karachi has meant a loss of culture and appreciation for the arts. “We are losing our culture due increase in population and movement of people in search of jobs and business.” She told the audience that in the 1970s there existed a culture of visiting book stores but now they have all shut down and have been turned into ice-cream parlours or other small businesses. Gardens are also rarely visited by people as they have been taken over by drug users.
NED University’s Professor Noman Ahmed talked about the rate of urbanisation in Karachi which is much more rapid that that of other cities.
A representative of non-governmental organisation Shehri, Sameer, urged the participants of the conference to develop a sense of ownership of the city. “We have to change our mindset,” he said. “This city belongs to us and government officials and ministers are public servants. Rights are only granted to those who demand them.” If this isn’t controlled, then we shall soon lose all our open spaces, gardens and playgrounds.
When The Express Tribune approached participants in the conference and asked them for their feedback, some people indicated that no solutions were presented and that the speakers only highlighted the problems. “I want to save my city, but I do not know where to go or what to do,” said Ghazala Yousuf. A similar view was echoed by Iqbal Alavi, but he still appreciated the discussion.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2011.
Partition had a dramatic impact on the landscape of Karachi. Middle-class Hindus migrated to India and thousands of Muslims coming to Pakistan found homes in Karachi. The population of the city increased drastically and for the first time katchi abadis or unplanned settlements sprung up.
“In 1947 there were no katchi abadis, but in 1985 the number was 538,” according to Saiban’s Tasneem Siddiqui who was speaking at a seminar on urbanisation as part of Jashan-e-Faiz celebrations at the KMC Sports Complex on Sunday. “Now 55 per cent of Karachi lives in such settlements.” In 1947, the population of Karachi was just 0.4 million (today it is closer to 18 million) and it was regarded as one of the best cities in all of Asia. “Port workers lived in Lyari, and Ranchore Lines was populated mostly by middle-class people, particularly those who had served in the British Army during World War II,” said Siddiqui. “Saddar was relatively affluent and was in the use of government officials, and the Parsi and Amil colonies were sparsely populated. The municipal corporation that looked after Karachi did its job efficiently and administered the city very well.”
Writer and poet Attiya Dawood lamented the fact that rapid urbanisation in Karachi has meant a loss of culture and appreciation for the arts. “We are losing our culture due increase in population and movement of people in search of jobs and business.” She told the audience that in the 1970s there existed a culture of visiting book stores but now they have all shut down and have been turned into ice-cream parlours or other small businesses. Gardens are also rarely visited by people as they have been taken over by drug users.
NED University’s Professor Noman Ahmed talked about the rate of urbanisation in Karachi which is much more rapid that that of other cities.
A representative of non-governmental organisation Shehri, Sameer, urged the participants of the conference to develop a sense of ownership of the city. “We have to change our mindset,” he said. “This city belongs to us and government officials and ministers are public servants. Rights are only granted to those who demand them.” If this isn’t controlled, then we shall soon lose all our open spaces, gardens and playgrounds.
When The Express Tribune approached participants in the conference and asked them for their feedback, some people indicated that no solutions were presented and that the speakers only highlighted the problems. “I want to save my city, but I do not know where to go or what to do,” said Ghazala Yousuf. A similar view was echoed by Iqbal Alavi, but he still appreciated the discussion.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2011.