IT turns out that the water issue in Karachi is not something which is a result of the demographic burden compounded by political grudges that the city has been shouldering for a little more than a decade. It was always there even when Karachi was not bursting at the seams and cut a pretty rosy picture, although the nature of the problem was a trifle different.

Half a century back, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) was quick in teaching the taxpayers a lesson or two if they did not comply with civil norms. So if you did not pay your utility bills on time, you were in trouble. This is the reason that in the beginning of June (1965) the KMC cut off water supply of those who either did not pay their municipality dues or were late in paying them. Obviously, it caused a great deal of discomfort to the taxpayers. On June 16, 1965 the ‘city fathers’ (municipal councillors, if you are wondering who the fathers were/are) at a resumed budget meeting severely criticised the KMC’s decision to discontinue the water supply. A majority of the councillors present on the occasion resented the action. They did not stop there and also expressed indignation over the increased rate of water charges from 31 paisa per thousand gallons to 81 paisa. On the other hand, the KMC was willing to use water at places where the public would regularly visit for altogether different reasons. A day before the city fathers felt sympathetic towards the taxpayers, chairman of the corporation’s finance committee Malik Bagh Ali in his budget speech said that a fountain near the Quaid-i-Azam’s mausoleum would be built to enhance its architectural beauty. The estimated cost of the beauty-enhancing fountain was Rs100,000. Come to think of it, the fountain installing culture in the city has come to an end. Perhaps because of water scarcity!

As can be gauged from the above two news items, it was the budget season (the month of June always is). On June 18, the West Pakistan government proposed to spend Rs66.419 million on Karachi division, comprising Karachi and Lasbela districts, during the next financial year beginning on July 1. The largest amount, to be utilised by the KDA, of Rs27.043 million was allocated for physical planning and housing in the city. Looking at things 50 years down the line, anyone can easily guess what a sea change Karachi has gone through. Today that kind of amount is not sufficient even to buy an apartment in certain localities.

Speaking of planning a year ahead, on June 19 the Karachi Press Club elected its office-bearers and members of the governing body for the year 1965-66. The four office-bearing journalists were: Safdar Ali Qureshi (president), M.A. Mansuri (vice-president), Arshad Shami (treasurer) and Iqbal Qureshi (joint secretary) while Mirza Nusrat Beg, S. Zawar Husain, Hasan Ali Khan Bozai, Fazal Qureshi, Abdul Latif Jafri, Salahuddin Haider and M. Iqbal Qureshi were elected members of the governing body. Journalists, by the way, have always done justice to their job (well, most of them) when it comes to highlighting the plight of the marginalised segments of society.

On June 21, local newspapers ran a story which might give you an indication about the fact that the religious minorities in Pakistan have seldom had a smooth ride. According to the report, President of the Catholic Association of Pakistan Michael M.R. Chohan appealed the government to expedite the grant for naturalisation certificates on the applications of Goan residents. Mr Chohan predicated his appeal on the fact that the applicants had no other home except Pakistan, and had no intention to go to Indian Goa or the far-off Portugal. Yes, Pakistan is home to us all, only if we believe so in the heart of our hearts.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2015

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