ince time immemorial, the people of Karachi have been accustomed to functioning in the survival mode, trying to keep their head above water. Acting on instincts, planning crash survival, attempting to reach their workplace before the boss arrives, taking a wrong turn and speeding away, driving in the opposite direction on the road to escape raging traffic. These are some of the everyday things that require zero civic sense and ‘save a lot of time’ without having to worry about any ramifications it may have or any inconvenience it may cause.

This often brings the city to a standstill. It brings the people to their knees. It leads to a complete structural collapse. Each day we, as a nation, do so many things that are selfish on one’s part.

I am not an engineer, much less an urban planner. It only takes a mindful person acting as a responsible citizen to recognise their civic duties and rights. Despite these issues, it makes me proud that the people have had each other’s backs, regardless of institutional failure and the state’s dysfunctional character. We have developed survival as a habit, not knowing what growth is and what it means to thrive as a civilisation.

We have failed to meet the climate change challenge head on. Since climate change was not deemed a pressing concern, the country is dealing with the repercussions now. The production and use of single-use plastic should have been tackled decades ago. Even now, we seem unable to stop using and throwing away plastic

In times of crises, I have personally seen troops rescue stranded families in large parts of Pakistan’s financial capital. On a private level, the Vigos, Fortuners and SUVs have been use to help relocate citizens. As the City of Lights was fighting hopelessly against poor design of roads, overflowing drains, absence of transit ways, it only exposed the way it was planned, developed and managed. The survival mode was in full effect when we saw doctors at home reaching out online for patients who were mildly sick and sought home-based treatments. Petrol stations were shut down and somehow the generosity poured out at so many levels from Karachiites, as they provided unconditional transportation. It is the small acts of kindness during these epochal events that keeps this city rolling. Otherwise, it is a hopeless state of affairs.

Of course, this is not just about survival mode or disaster management or civic rights or even engineering. We have failed to meet the climate challenge head on. Since climate change was not deemed a pressing concern, the country is dealing with the repercussions now. The production and use of single-use plastic should have been tackled decades ago. Even now, we seem to be unable to stop using and throwing away plastic. If you must throw (because we are a nation that keeps our homes clean, but nothing else), throw a banana peel instead. It is biodegradable. And for the rest of their life, if a government official shows their face in public, they should be followed by the lady from Game of Thrones, ringing a bell and chanting “shame, shame, shame!” as the city flaps in filth and misfortune.

The author is the    publishing editor at    Liberty Books.