![Subscribe to Pakistan Desk [Reloaded]](http://pakistandesk.com/wp-content/themes/themasterplan_tma_v1.4/tma/images/bg/rss.gif)
The beauty of the metropolitan city Karachi has increased alot in past few years and for which the credit goes to the City Government’s unique ownership program ‘I Own Karachi’. Launched on 14th August 2008, the program aimed to bring positive change in the mindset of the people of Karachi. The city Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal openly invited all the residents of Karachi to come and register themselves with the City Government, he gave them the opportunity to become the ‘City Owners’.
What the program actually does is that the registered city owners are provided with some training so that they can perform the basic duties whenever needed. The most important feature is that the common man is given attention and steps are being taken in order to deal with his problems. The Karachi City Government and the City Owners have launched a CNG bus service in the city of Karachi, they have also built several bus stops with very beautiful shelters. The problems of sewerage and water shortage have also been given attention and the City Government and the City Owners have managed to bring SOME improvement in the sewerage system of the city, though its still not enough and ALOT needs to be done but its still SOMETHING.
Extreme love and sincerity was observed from the residents of Karachi. They supported the I own Karachi program and almost everyone participated in the program with zeal and zest, be it women, labourers, businessmen, students, sportsmen, government officers, elected representatives, office bearers of Arts Council, rickshaw/taxi drivers and even the Imams.
This unique concept of city ownership has been in the positive direction and it has somewhat changed the picture of the city. The work done by the joint efforts of City Mayor and the people of Karachi is remarkable and is appreciated around the world.More than 80 overhead bridges, underpasses and fly-overs were constructed just in the time span of just 2 years, which is actually a great achievement. The condition of the existing parks and recreational places has been improved while the city government has also made some new parks and places which add to the city’s beauty. Karachi is the biggest city of the country and it was once known as the city of lights, the City Owners are trying hard to help Karachi regain the status of the city of lights!
The official I own Karachi website can be accessed here. You can also join their facebook group.
What we normally do is that we only criticize the government but with this program instead of criticizing Government, the people can actually step forward and bring positive change in the city. We can only progress and touch the peak of glory when we consider the public property as our own.Pakiology.com prays that may Pakistan and the city of Karachi flourish more and more with every passing day. Pakistan Zindabad!!
P.s I wrote it for “Pakiology” .Original post can be read here
Beautifully written. I really liked the way you presented your thoughts about our very own Karachi.
Nice article Areeba! I never knew that CDGK launched CNG bus service in collaboration with City ownership program.
As a sincere reader, I felt that this article lacks something essential.I thought this as an Eye-catching article that should encompass a wide range of commentors as the subject is itself tremendous, before reading the description - but Overall, Nice try :)
And, Yes We Own Karachi.
Commentators*
I agree with Nisha!
Did Karachi ownership concept really worked ? I dont think so, it was MKs failed attempt to give ethnic color to the Karachi…………
@ Junaid Shah :
How did it give an ethnic color to the whole exercise ?
Were only ‘Muhajirs’ inducted into the program ?
We all know who runs Karachi. Looking at past, it becomes obvious that Karachi gets captured by chaos and terror after every tragedy . The reason for this mishappening is lack of patience. It is the responsibility of the dominant party to guide people prudently and change their mind-set to avoid violence after tragedies occur. It must urge the people to have patience until the full disclosure. We see terror attacks in Punjab very oftenly but they look better than karachiites when it comes to cope with such situations . Because of the alliance with ANP and MQM, federal government seems to be paralyzed. It has failed to protect the people of the city. It should realize the sensitivity of the issue and must address it in a proper and effective manner before it is too late.
The government says that there is evidence that those causing trouble in the city have links to the. Taliban Federal Interior Minister stated that this assassination could be the work of Taliban-linked militant groups. But MQM, representing the city’s majority Urdu-speaking community, blamed the attack on a rival political force, the Awami National Party which is a representative of Karachi ’s ethnic Pashtun population. It has been seen that these two major political forces have routinely blamed each other for deadly attacks on their activists.