Former Federal Minister and Senator Nisar A Memon on Thursday said that Karachi has become a governance nightmare, arguing neither the city government nor the provincial government are willing to take ownership of the metropolis.
Addressing as the guest speaker at an event titled 'does Karachi belong to anyone' organised by Society for Global Moderation here at CMC head office, Memon said that there has been a political breakdown, hence the problems of Karachi need ownership and the mega city of the country simply cannot be left to survive on its own.
Discussing the very ruinous and poor conditions that Karachi - the world's 7th largest city - has been driven into, Memon said that for the past many years, the city had been left rudderless and it was amazing that a city with a population of over 20 million was surviving at all.
Karachi is Pakistan's largest city and was the capital of the country until 1960 but since it continues to be Pakistan's commercial and industrial capital, it has grown at a very fast pace and its problems have also multiplied.
"People like you and me have benefited from this city but we have not repaid our debt," he said adding, it is the young people who must stand up and take ownership of this city.
"We have water resources but have not planned according to the growing population," he said. The same is the problem with public transport and other areas.
With respect to Karachi's problems and the city's future, Memon said the situation had become very precarious as various parts of the city were owned by too many departments and city management was not centralised. He said Karachi is divided into five districts besides having the DHA, 6 cantonments, KDA, Malir Development Authority, Lyari Development Authority, Pakistan Navy, Gadap, Bin Qasim, etc. as well as the kacchi abadis.
"A lot of people from interior Sindh come and live in this city to govern it but they have no sense of belonging. They should have as much at stake as they have in Nawabshah, Khairpur, Larkana or even Lahore and Islamabad," he said.
In reply to a question, Memon said that since there are so many problems, people should become organised and come out. He said the paradigm must shift because it cannot go on like this.
Responding to another question, Memon said that instead of attending to immediate problems, we must plan ahead and attend to those aspects that will come up in the coming years.
Earlier, Syed Jawaid Iqbal, Chairman, Society for Global Moderation (SGM), introduced Nisar Memon and welcomed the guests from civil society, business, academia and foreign missions who attended the Talk.
He said Society for Global Moderation, established in 2003, is a private sector Think Tank strengthening tolerance, interfaith harmony and democracy. It encompasses individuals from prominent circles such as academia, business, social and political sciences, as well as religious scholars of major schools of thought, to promote the axiom: 'Changing Attitudes - Enhancing Values'.