I am Karachi: Campaigning for the city’s peace

The drive aims to spread the message of peace through social, cultural activities.

KARACHI: The only way to counter the violence prevalent in today's society is to counter it with social and cultural initiatives. This was stressed by speakers at the launch of the 'I Am Karachi' peace conference at the Marriott Hotel on Wednesday.

Around twenty organisations are part of the consortium that is working to counter the violence prevalent in Karachi. The group aims to spread the message of peace through social and cultural activities.

Addressing the press briefing, the host and administrator of the MAD School in Karachi, Nida Butt, spoke about the aims and significance of the campaign. She said that now was the time to kick-start conversation on the identity of our society that was so prone to violence. The title, I Am Karachi, itself signifies Karachi as a living entity, she said.

Speaking about the campaign's initiatives and events in the past, founder of Helper of Hope, Saad Amanullah Khan said that they had already mobilised and empowered 170,000 youth of Karachi, while up to 0.8 million had been reached indirectly through their families. Khan revealed that an Xbox FIFA competition, events for people with disabilities and an activity, titled 'I Am Compassionate', will be part of this year's events. A dialogue series with the youth of Lyari and Korangi will also be undertaken by partners, Express Media Group, as part of the campaign.



Speaking about the spirit of the campaign, businessman Amin Hashwani said that although the consortium comprised 20 organisations at the moment, it was open to the participation by more stakeholders, advocates and policymakers. "Pakistan's core issues are social and cultural. Economy and politics will get back on track on their own once peace is achieved through events like these," said Hashwani.

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy recited Syed Afzal Haider's poem, reminiscing about the Karachi of 1954, when it was perfectly normal for the poet to roam around on Elphinstone Street and bump into Fatima Jinnah, also taking a stroll on the same street. "On this day, we are not only stepping forward, but also going backwards to reclaim our heritage," she said.

"Karachi has always handled the burden of migration," said journalist Ghazi Salahuddin. "We all need to question ourselves on our relationship with our city," he said. In response to a question, artist and author, Rumana Husain said that it was the general public that should be treated as superstars for this campaign. "We aim to celebrate the diversity of people and initiate conversations for issues that are considered taboo," she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2014.