KARACHI, Feb 18: Problems of eight major cities of Asia, including Karachi, would be deliberated upon during the six-day (March 24-29) polycentric World Social Forum (WSF) events in the city.

An Asian forum on urban issues has been planned in collaboration with the International Coalition of Housing Rights to discuss various problems, infrastructure, environment, behaviour, transport, town planning, etc.

This was sated by a spokesman for the Karachi-based WSF-2006 after a probing meeting of the Asian Council of the WSF at which the Bangkok-based Asian Forum for Human Rights Development revealed that it was planning several events for the WSF Karachi event. Forum Asia is a working partner with the WSF.

In this context, the Bangkok-based Sheikh Mohammad Altafur Rahman, had initial an exchange of views on different issues that would be focused during the event.

Mr Rahman spelt out his organization’s concerns over the sufferings of the defenders of human rights, journalists and lawyers, and over the situation in Nepal. He was of the view that the Karachi moot would provide an opportunity to tackle these and many other issues.

Four bigger events during the WSF-2006 would include the dignity forum, which is linked with the Dalit movement and would focus on their issues, like bonded labour. Rallies would be part of this platform.

In addition, the issues like rights and problems of peasants, land encroachments and reforms, etc., would also be taken up at the ‘land mela’ during the moot.

The WSF was represented at the meeting by Saleha Athar, Aly Ercelawn, Karamat Ali, and Tazeen Javed. Representatives from India could not attend because of visa problem.