A Karachiite’s dilemma
The feeling of security and peace is unheard of when it comes to this city. Most people will share this feeling and the ones who don’t are simply in denial. How secure do I feel while being a citizen of Karachi? Not much, I guess.
This wasn’t a recent insight or epiphany I had; I suppose my trip to Punjab this summer caused me to change my stance towards Karachi, it changed how I viewed life, how I viewed myself and how I viewed this ‘happening’ city. Most of us have been living in this city for quite a long time, so for us there is little escape from this tense environment. We have now gotten used to the daily shootings, the bomb blasts, the unpredictable strikes and the snatchings of mobile phones.
This summer, I actually experienced what a different world lies beyond the city of Karachi when I visited my grandmother in Punjab. It is a whole new world in Punjab, with the beautiful green sights and clean, smooth roads. The most remarkable thing is that living there is peaceful; you feel safe.
I know what you must be thinking: who would prefer the heat of Punjab over the breezy Karachi weather? Who would opt for the never ending load-shedding in Punjab to the relatively reliable power supply of Karachi? Call me crazy, but I am willing to take all of that while living in Punjab, the one thing I can’t take anymore is the stifling sense of insecurity.
I travelled to Lahore, Islamabad, Muree and Gujranwala. I would walk around in the streets freely in the evenings, all by myself, but I can’t remember the last time I did that in Karachi. My brother, with a cousin of his, would cycle around the whole day and not for a minute did I have to worry about why he wasn’t home yet or if everything was okay.
If this is what city life means then I have somewhat had enough, I have been subjected to numerous robberies in my home as well as mugging on the streets. Karachi does not let you live. Where are the law enforcers? Where are the politicians? Is anyone listening?
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2014.
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Dear areej, First of all lets think for a while how long you have been part of punjab ? a month or soo. Are you really in a position to compare a month in punjab with may be alot more life in karachi ? In addition , despite of number of BAD things you have criticized upon and (may be you had been severly effected) but , have you ever thought for a minute what karachi has actually given you till yet . A roof over your head , clothes to cover your body , books to educate you and food to treat yourself . Well you would things in your mind which are far more than just necessaties. So a piece of advise for you. Firstly , dont compare. Secondly try to thank for the blessing you have and try not to cry on things you dont have. Because somewhere at someplace someone is endlessly crying to have those things you take for granted. Stay safe and stay happy THANK YOU
Good read.
@Chachoo.....no were in the world there is concept of dry port....
As a Karachiite, I am ashamed at what this guy called Faisal said. To all my fellow countrymen from outside Karachi and especially in Punjab, rest assured people like Faisal are in minority here in Karachi so please don't take him seriously.
@Faisal: Bro, I would only say that God does not like arrogance at all, so think over what you have said and try and realize that it is not good.
@ Faisal: It is this racist attitude and false sense of vanity that has let Karachi down. When a community holds a person like AH and party like MQM in high esteem that anyone can easily judge the intellect and values of that community. You are decaying because you gave your youth arms and ammunition instead of pen and books and no doubt you arrogance will have further falls. Cheers
@2paisa (Khi): Again you are wrong. From where you are quoting such figures?. Just put KSE ( Karachi Stock Exchange) out of the equation and then see how much revenue you can generate. For example i will give you one example. Lever Brothers main revenue base is Punjab but they pay the taxes in Karachi. Similarly PPL, OGDC and all major Corporations are registered in KSE so their corporate tax is colected there.This does not mean Karachi is generating that revenue.
Also if dry ports will be activated in every province then no federal excise duty will be collected in Karachi and you will see different figures alltogether. Even if i Import a car today then my taxes and import duty will be deducted at Karachi port. This does not mean Karachi generated anything. They just collected it.
Yes, but the reason for this is that Karachi contribute over 50% in revenues to Pakistan's economy - according to FBR, Karachi is responsible for around 47% of direct taxes (i.e. income/corporate tax) of Pakistan, 34% of federal excise tax (i.e. tax on certain goods), and 23.38% of domestic sales tax, 75% of customs duty and 79% of sales tax on imports (e.g. thorough Karachi's port, including for other countries).
It has both a very strong service-based economy (most of the largest financial firms, industrial zones and corporations are headquartered) as well as a strong manufacturing sector (around 30% contribution to country's manufacturing sector).
Unsurprisingly, there are outfits both in and out of governments who want to take unjust advantage of this and hence the 'dilemma' we see - fyi, there is globally a strong correlation between crime rate and urbanization (gang wars, knife crime, ghettoization etc.) and Karachi is one of the largest cities of the world.
@Faisal: what a racist and biased comment. First of all get your facts right. The Mohajirs are NOT the original population of Karachi, but are refugees from India. Speaking Urdu is not the criterion for being sophisticated. In fact it was the mass migration to Karachi from India that has created the current state of affairs.
The true dilemma of Karachi is that those who care for the city and are from the city dont have the authority, and those who are from other cities, and are indifferent to the happenings of the city are in power.
PPP has Karachiites supporters also, but still they nominate only people from rural areas for Karachi management. The PMLs are totally unconcerned what goes on here. PTI by focusing on Karachi are just trying to cut MQMs votebank, even if by some miracle they get whole mqm votebank, they wont be able to do anything, cause eventhough Karachi has 50% of the provinces population, it gets only around 40 seats in the PA. So the power to change lies in rural areas. the Karachiites have no one to take care of them.
@Faisal: I am appalled at your comment. Do you have any idea what you are talking about?. So anyone who dont speak good Urdu is a paindo?. Who told you Urdu guage the level of progress? Paindo is a dergatory word and you used it here. Let me tell you that I live in a village and i am proud to be a Paindo. Do you know the The region where Pakistan is situated produced two noble prize winners and both were from Punjab. One is Abdus Salam and ther other is Haar Kobin Khorana. Also When did somebody told you that speaking urdu is an example of progress. i dont speak Urdu at all but I am highly educated. Also your comment is a disgrace to the original population ( pre 1947 ) of Karachi. They were mostly Sindhi Hindu Businessmen with Baloch fishermen who inhabited this place in the first place. I could not even understand How Express tribune will approve such a comment like yours?.
@Syed: Well it depends what is your way of life. In Punjab the night-life concept is absent but this does not mean that they are not satisfied. Laid back life is much better in many ways. You can live without night life as well. Spending time with your family is considered the best part in Punjab In Islamabad and in smaller cities in Punjab you will perceive that most of the shops close around 9. But this should be ideal way of life in my view. In Developed countries like Germany apart from saturdays or free days they live in a same manner and they are satisfied. Also In Lahore and Islamabad and even in smaller cities as well there are all opportunities available. If you are an Entrepreneur then you dont need to worry about.
What a Crap Pointless article
So you don't feel safe in Karachi but you do while on holiday in Punjab. Quite a subjective and narrow opinion for a major article I must say.
Dear Areej, I am also a karachiite and an auditor by profession. I have traveled across Pakistan (50+ cities including Kashmir) multiple times for weeks even and I share the same feelings in fact there is a lot more good in Lahore & Islamabad as compared to Karachi. But lemme tell you Karachi KARACHI hai yaarr.. Yes we do have Law & Order situation worse here but still Karachi is ALIVE.. Economy, Opportunities, Variety, etc you will find Karachi the cheapest as well as the best in class.. Regardless of strikes & mugging the Night Life of Karachi is unaltered and not comparable.. Despite of bad politics and Dakait police walay Karachi is a place to live as you will find Life here..
Thank you for sharing this insight with people. The credit all goes to SS and PML(N). I just hope load shedding can reduce over the next few years in Punjab with the new projects that are being launched.