Rational approach

In the absence of a proper official mechanism, the role of welfare organistions becomes all the more important

Public welfare organisations have been affected by the anti-encroachment drive being carried out in Karachi on the orders of the Supreme Court. As part of efforts to revive the Karachi of yore, the KMC has demolished illegal structures that had cropped up over the years almost all across the city. And the razed structures also include the roadside booths — set up by about half a dozen welfare organisations operating in the city — meant for providing emergency rescue services like ambulance vans, serving daily meals, offering temporary shelters, and carrying out relief work and community services.

In the absence of a proper official mechanism to cater to the various community needs of the citizens of Karachi, especially those related to healthcare, the role of welfare organistions becomes all the more important. For a Karachiite, it’s difficult to imagine a world without Edhi Foundation, Chhipa Welfare Trust, Alamgir Welfare Trust, Saylani Welfare, Hussaini Blood Bank and the likes. You need an ambulance to shift a patient to hospital, and it’s there at your doorstep literally within minutes; you don’t have money to fill your belly, dastarkhwans are spread out at places in the city to satiate your hunger; even if you are faced with an emergency situation in your neighbouhood like water accumulating due to a pipeline burst, welfare workers are there to help you out.

But the question arises here is: should a lawful exercise allow exemptions in the name of welfare service? Well, if not forever, there can at least be a temporary exemption for the roadside emergency response centres that had been set up at locations identified in the wake of a research supervised by renowned surgeon Abdul Rasheed Jumma, as claimed by Faisal Edhi of Edhi Foundation. The civic authorities can then, in due course, come up with lawful solutions in consultation with the welfare organisations.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2019.

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