KARACHI: Reacting to the recent orders on part of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) seeking immediate removal of ‘encroachments’ on pavements, including the makeshift structures set up to provide free food, a number of welfare organisations Dawn spoke to on Saturday stated that they were operating at various locations with government approval.

They also contradicted KMC claims that meetings were being held with relevant organisations on the issue and insisted that no consultation had been done with them.

“There has been no meeting with us. Having said that our organisation is in the process of closing down arrangements for free food on footpaths anyway,” said Mohammad Ghazal, the chief executive officer of the Saylani Welfare Trust (SWT).

The trust, he said, always obtained approval from the relevant deputy commissioner or signed memorandums of understanding with the relevant plot owner before setting up any makeshift structure for charitable work.

Welfare organisations say makeshift structures set up for free food with govt approval

According to Mr Ghazal, most places being used for ‘free dastarkhwan’ by the organisation constitute permanent structures for which the land has either been acquired through donation or purchased by the organisation.

“It hurts reputation of our organisation if we engage in an illegal activity. You can judge the high level of our service by the fact that ours is the only welfare organisation in Pakistan which has acquired an ISO certificate in 2015 on its food quality and our audit is done by an international firm,” he said.

Answering a question, he said that at present only 30 to 40 per cent places for dastarkhwan were functioning on pavements while the rest had been turned into free-food restaurants.

About confining animals donated for sadqa to cages on pavements, he argued that he never came across any criticism on that practice. “Not just humans, animals get the best green fodder at places run by our staff,” he said, adding that his organisation wanted to work in collaboration with the government.

Shakeel Dehlavi of the Alamgir Welfare Trust said that the trust had no makeshift structure on footpaths in the city and that at least 5,000 people daily benefited from the trust’s food service under which properly packed eatables were distributed at various places of the city.

‘No emergency service by government’

Syed Zaffar Abbas of the Jafaria Disaster Cell (JDC) regretted the KMC’s decision of removing spaces for free dastarkhwan and attributed it to the government’s indifference to the people’s plight. “It shows that the government is absolutely indifferent to the financial hardships the public faces today,” he said.

Like other organisations, Mr Abbas contended no structure had been set up on pavements without government approval and that the organisation had not been consulted on that issue.

The JDC, according to him, runs two dastarkhwan (with government approval), one at Numaish and the other at Jauhar Chowrangi, while a third one in Orangi would soon open after an NOC is acquired from the government.

Mr Abbas listed a series of services the cell had been providing to the people irrespective of their faith, religion, class and creed. He also talked about how the JDC on many occasions, particularly during the intense 2015 heatwave resulting in a huge human loss, had supported the government, which had no resources or preparedness to handle any emergency, be it flood, fire or even rain.

“This year, heatwave alerts have been issued twice and government officials have written to us at least two dozen letters, seeking our support to tackle any calamity,” he said.

“There is neither a state-run ambulance system nor an efficient firefighting system in this highly populated city where prices of basic commodities have gone so high that people with a salary of Rs50,000 to Rs60,000 are finding it hard to ensure three meals for their families.”

Mr Abbas also questioned why no serious action had ever been taken against the many commercial ventures being run illegally on pavements across the city.

“People are committing suicides in this city as the state hasn’t set up any mechanism that can help the common man survive with dignity,” he said.

‘First provide alternative’

Commenting on the KMC’s decision, Pakistan Medical Association secretary general Dr Qaiser Sajjad said that it should be carried out with thorough planning, consultation with all stakeholders and be across the board.

“Pavements should be free of all encroachments as they provide healthy spaces to the public. But, the question is how the KMC would go about it? Will it be just a temporary exercise as has been happening in the past?” he said.

He suggested that the KMC should first provide alternative places to welfare organisations and then remove their structures.

“Also, it is equally important to see that they are providing quality food to people for which the food authority needs to do its job; either certify the food or take action as per law,” he said.

Faisal Edhi representing the Edhi Foundation said that his organisation had been verbally told to remove their facilities at a few places but no consultation had been done with them.

“We will cooperate with the government and remove structures if asked to do so,” he said.

When contacted, Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman, the Municipal Commissioner, repeated the KMC’s statement on removal of encroachments, including makeshift centres for free food, and said that meetings were being held with relevant stakeholders.

“Pavements are meant for people and not for encroachers. Karachi is one of the worst cities in the world in terms of having few spaces for the public where they can freely walk, jog or even ride a bicycle,” Dr Saif-ur-Rehman said.

These spaces, he said, had a positive social, ecological and medical impact on the people. “Right now, you can see even animals being caged on footpaths. This presents an ugly picture to city visitors.”

He said he was not convinced with the argument that places where free food is served were important and organisations should be first facilitated and provided spaces to continue this service.

“In most cases, such set-ups have mushroomed in competition. These organisations have enough resources to shift to another location,” he said, adding that the decision was very much in line with the Supreme Court’s order.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2018