Rediscovering Karachi

Roads, malls, food and the seaside — all make for a routine view of Karachi but this view changes when seen from an outsider’s eyes.

The temperament and taste of this city is different from other cities of the country. I, like other Karachiites, have many issues with the city, from the crazy traffic to the muggings, from the poor law and order situation to the broken roads. But in the last two weeks, I saw a new side of this city when I met some journalists from Lahore, Peshawar and rural Sindh. While showing them around, I fell in love with Karachi all over again. Going to the beach with friends is not as much fun as taking outsiders on a tour of the city, in an attempt to show off its greatness.

It was a proud experience showing them those positive elements and images of Karachi, which they had never had the chance to see on TV. I still remember one of the journalists from Lahore saying, “Aap log baray aram se raat ko ghoom laitay ho Karachi main, darr nahi lagta (How easily you people roam around the city at night, aren’t you afraid)?” He also asked me why the media only reported killings and muggings when there is so much positivity in Karachi and amongst its people.

Karachi suffers from a poor law and order situation, bad traffic, pollution, broken roads — but there is more to it than just that. The myths and misconceptions which our media show comprise only half the truth. Karachi is beautiful, its celebrations are infectious, and the best part of it all is the cool evening breeze. This city never sleeps, its malls and markets are way better than those of other cities of the country, and the essence of this metropolis can be enjoyed while waiting in the hours-long traffic on the roads of Saddar.

Karachi has a lot of stories to tell and there is a lot that people need to understand about it. One of the reporters on his last day in the city asked if I felt lucky roaming around the city daily and managing not to get mugged by mobile snatchers. I smilingly replied that that is something that can happen in any city; it is just a question of taking precautions.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2015.