Endurance test

In front of a large hotel on Shahrah-e-Faisal, the main highway in Karachi, there is a sign saying ‘Karachi - The Resilient City’. When I pass by it, I often wonder if being resilient is something Karachi really wants to be. Despite being the largest city in Pakistan and the largest contributor to the country's GDP – what is it getting in return? How are the people of Karachi being rewarded? Well, they are not. From broken roads to polluted water, from the highest crime rates in the country to flooded streets, the city of lights is only surrounded by darkness. In the name of infrastructure, the major roads of Karachi, like University Road, have all been dug up, causing huge traffic jams. Gas loadshedding is also on the rise. But Karachi is nothing if not resilient. The people of Karachi continue to pay their taxes, run their factories and love our city, all while advocating for our rights - with the hope that one day, the resilience will pay off.

Ehwer Hashmi

Karachi