ARTICLE: Karachi is not only the melting pot of all what Pakistan has to offer but is the economic backbone of our great nation. Unlike other countries in the world, Karachi is not one of the many metropolises we have in the country, in fact it is the only true metropolitan center we've as a country.
Karachi has a unique significance and holds strategic importance for the reasons below:
Diversity: The city is often dubbed the "Mini Pakistan" for its unparalleled diversity representing all the ethnic, religious, and cultural shades of our people. No other city in Pakistan can match the city's diversity and all-embracing history.
Economic Hub: Karachi is the financial capital economic hub of the country and is home to country's most prominent businesses (import / export / manufacturing / services / education / health / social service, etc.).
Employment: Karachi is the biggest source of employment in the country due to its large industrial base. People from across the country come here to seek a decent living.
The Trend and Pace setter - trailblazing progressive thinking, innovative solutions and modern standards: Karachi is always at the forefront of all the advancements in the country; from science to business, from culture to politics, the city sets the new trends.
Driver of Corporate Culture: Karachi sets the professional standards for the rest of the country right from customer interaction, turnaround time, corporate governance or continuous improvement.
The Port City: The Port of Karachi continues to fuel the country's industry, trade and finance. In addition to its massive role as the gateway to outside world, the city holds undeniable strategic and security importance.
As encapsulated above, Karachi is uniquely positioned, and it will not be an exaggeration to say that much of country's present and the future depends on this city. Any disruption in Karachi will result in unbearable, far-reaching consequences for the entire country.
Without prolonging the prologue, at least for the last 40 years, Karachi has only given and in return, proverbially speaking, has received nothing - not even some of the most basic amenities that are considered a given in rest of the urban centers in the world. As a result, Karachi now struggles to sustain its economic success and is not fully ready to play its role. There has been a gradual decline and deterioration, despite the fact the city has shown exemplary resilience and remains larger than life. But for how long is now the question.
Waqt karta hey parwarish barsoun
Haadsa aik dum nahi hota
(Qabil Ajmeri)
This is what precisely has happened to the city once called 'City of Lights'. Karachi is on a ventilator looking for resuscitation from its loved ones. In this time of need, CORPORATE PAKISTAN GROUP (CPG), the leading platform of intelligentsia in the country (hailing from corporate world, business community, academia, technocrats, media, tech entrepreneurs, parliamentarians, bureaucracy, military, and civil society at large) has proactively organized debates and discourses on subjects of national and strategic importance. It advises & assists Government and other institutions with solutions and recommendations. In the same vein, CPG has organized seminars, discussions and programs on Karachi with a focus on solutions and way forward in a constructive manner. The recent unprecedented torrential rains have left behind tales of destruction & misery.
True to its traditions, CPG under the dynamic stewardship of Muhammad Azfar Ahsan (Founder & Chair of CPG) organized a National Dialogue on Karachi's development with a meaningful contribution from all six mainstream political parties of Pakistan, urban town planning experts, sitting and former Governors of the province. The dialogue aided to understand the fundamental challenges and evolved a consensus on some key recommendations for Karachi.
CPG welcomes the recently announced 'Karachi Transformation Plan' but strongly believes that no plan or package can resonate without weighing in with the requisite reforms recommended in this charter. Based on various discourses, debates and discussions within CPG and also the national dialogue, we are delighted to share our recommendations as Charter for Karachi as follows:
1) An Empowered City Government: The stakeholders must accept that Karachi has to come under one umbrella, and the city and its mayor to get the status and powers like mayors of other megacities around the world. All civic agencies must report to a mayor who should be chosen by the people of Karachi through direct elections.
2) All Institutions under one Unified Umbrella of City Government - When it comes to civic services all institutions like the Police, KDA, LDA, MDA, KPT, Pakistan Railways, Port Qasim Authority, Bahria Town, Cantonments & DHA, SBCA, KWSB, etc. be catered by Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). This is imperative from the perspective of ensuring standardization, continuity and enforcing the writ during mega projects and ensuring services.
3) Authentic Census: Without the exact population figures, it remains an impossibility to undertake planning of any sort. There is a consensus amongst stakeholders that the last census has understated Karachi's population by at least 8-10 million people. This needs rectification on crash basis for correct distribution of resources to this metropolis. This will also ensure rightful representation of Karachi in both National and Provincial assemblies.
4) Civic Infrastructure: With empowered metropolitan government in place, authorities with the assistance of both federal & provincial government should undertake the launch and revamp of civic infrastructure of Karachi that is in shambles with prime focus on the following areas:
Mass Transit (Karachi Circular Railway / Metro lines)
Sewerage system
Solid waste management
Road infrastructure
Water & power infrastructure (Both K-4 & Desalination of seawater along with incentives for Wind & Solar energy)
K-Electric (KE), the only power utility company with its own set of challenges and also complex past baggage; it needs to be supported and facilitated by both provincial and federal governments through provision of technical assistance and removal of policy bottlenecks.
5) Revenue Generation: City government should be empowered to raise revenue in order to cater to the needs of the metropolitan from sources like octroi, civic taxes, traffic fines, car registrations, government services, etc.
6) Strong & Robust Accountability System: There is also a dire need for a strong accountability mechanism. Our civic agencies are plagued by corruption, whether under civilian or non-civilian control. This should be in place with reasonable turnaround time for judgments on matters of civic importance that have a direct impact on the citizens.
7) Development of Low-Cost Housing for people to have an option to move into affordable, clean and respectable housing in more organized neighborhoods as compared to encroached and 'Katchhi Aabadis' (slums).
8) Refurbishment & Renovation of Existing Industrial Estates at par with the ones in leading developing countries and launch of new Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
9) Public-Private Partnership (PPP): This can be a game-changer from the perspective of optimum utilization of public resources, skills development in the public sector, employment generation, adoption of various projects under CSR or promotional budgets of corporates and collaboration in numerous other areas with a win-win approach.
10) One Voice, One Karachi: Karachi's true diversity needs to be celebrated rather than exploited for gaining political mileage. For true transformation, all stakeholders of Karachi need to rise above their respective political affiliations and vested interests in the larger interest of this megalopolis.
11) Holding of Immediate Local Bodies Elections: This whole charter is based on the premise that there is no substitute for holding immediate local bodies elections for imparting the rightful space to this city. Appointment of Administrator is welcome to lend continuity as a caretaker for a defined timeline that should not exceed 3-5 months. Any delay in elections would cause increased unrest thereby negating any sustainable solution to the challenges now and in the future.
12) Implementation of PFC: Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) should be implemented on the same lines as National Finance Commission (NFC) for true and equitable distribution of resources within the Sindh province.
13) Education / Health / Sports: No metropolitan can become a model unless it can boast of a robust system in education, health and recreation spaces. Like other systemic areas, Karachi has seen degeneration in these important sectors. This has had a colossal impact on the young minds and bodies. We understand that this will be a by-product of an effective and empowered local government capable of 'mega management'.
14) Abolition of Quota System: On-going Quota System for last 40 years is sheer injustice with the urban areas of the province and especially with the people of Karachi. It is also in contravention with the prevailing norms in other provinces of the federation. The irony is non implementation, and at times blatant violation of even the assigned quota. It must be done away with in order to restore merit, fairness and justice. Federal Government's step of extension of quota system taken quietly is non-transparent and contrary to the rhetoric.
15) Strengthening of Linkages, Cultural Exchanges between Urban & Rural Sindh: It is paramount to strengthen appreciation for the culture of Sindh, its customs, traditions, Sufi heritage, history and historical & religious sites with great tourism potential. Building linkages based on people-to-people contact, cultural events, historical tours, exchange of best practices between urban and rural Sindh would help. This is cardinal from the perspective of effective integration of all parts of the province and ensuring equity in distribution of economic gains. Well-laid out programmes in this regard and their execution will go a long way in building confidence and harnessing trust of all. More of such exchanges will gel the communities together and will ward off rumor mills that adversely and unfortunately contaminate minds creating divisions rather than building bridges.
16) One District: Like other megalopolises of the world, Karachi needs to operate as a single district with centralized management rather than 7 districts with each driving its own agenda sans standardization and uniformity of practices, policies and processes.
17 Last but not the least, there's an urgent need for the Development of Constitutional & Legal framework to ensure all of the above (wherever required), while ensuring at the same time that fruits of 18th amendment should cascade down not only to the city government but to the district and union council levels especially from the perspective of PFC & devolution of power.
CPG as a representative voice of intelligentsia and civil society believes that when it comes to Karachi - it's NOW or NEVER. It's time for ACTION and this is a CALL for ACTION. It is a monumental opportunity for leaving behind a Shining Legacy that will be a source of pride for generations to come. Tales of yore of this lovely city need to be relived; and can be relived. We should now make those tales a living reality.
We are confident that this home of ours will once again be known as the 'Bride of the East' and will Inshaallah become a destination of choice. It's crying for regaining its lost glory, but it doesn't have the energy anymore. The cries are turning into feeble whispers. You will have to come close to listen to it. It's saying,
Wo jin key hotay hein khursheed aasteenoun mein
Unhein kaheen say bulao bara andhera hey
(Saghar Siddiqui)
Let's join hands to listen to the woes of this lovely megacity and resuscitate it to life.
We are confident that together, we can!
CPG ACTION PLAN:
In order to reinforce implementation and ensure practical execution of this charter with an all inclusive approach guided by fairness and justice towards all stakeholders, CPG has arrived at a consensus on the following action points:
a) Constitution of a CPG Committee for a focused and planned effort on this agenda.
b) Advocacy of this charter with all key stakeholders.
c) CPG as a representative of intelligentsia and one of the most influential think tanks of the country will mobilize other key stakeholders of Karachi including businessmen, educational institutions, professional bodies, NGOs, bar associations, market committees, national icons, etc. for getting together for this national cause.
d) CPG will continue to organize and facilitate debates, dialogues and discourse on the subject.
e) CPG is open to incorporate more action steps based on the feedbacks from concerned stakeholders for effectively pursuing this common cause.
f) CPG will be forthcoming if it is entrusted for acting as an independent monitor for implementation / execution of Karachi Transformation Package thus ensuring that both federal and provincial governments fulfil their commitments based on agreed timelines.
g) CPG will also act as a bridge between civil society and government functionaries to remove any misunderstandings, improve communication and build confidence amongst both. We believe that at this juncture, CPG's role as a catalyst can be decisive from the perspective of addressing unfounded misgivings which become an impediment in moving forward.
(The views expressed and claims made in this article are not necessarily those of the newspaper).
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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