OVER the years we have turned ourselves into a ‘bulldozed society’ because we were unable to create institutions run by people of merit. The obvious result was corruption across the board and a breakdown of law and order which subsequently weakened the law enforcement agencies and the judicial system.

So somewhere within the system when there is chance to redeem or do good one has to just do it swiftly — even if it lacks planning and becomes punishing — just ‘bulldoze’ it through otherwise it may never happen. Remember the real people — the masses are never in the discussion — they are the sufferers on whom this tragic operation is performed.

The recent demolition of hundreds of encroaching shops at Empress Market is a classic example. Was the uprooting and devastation of hundreds of poor families the only way to clean up a neighborhood? Yes, the heritage building may look nice and spaced out aesthetically, but to please whom?

We have now robbed livelihood from thousands of poor people who had been in the place for almost four decades. We successfully destroyed households, families and created immense pain for them. We have also lost such an amazing ‘market culture’ that had evolved since many decades. Yes, the congestion was there and it could have been eased out with prudent planning.

‘People’ never count in our scheme of things. The beauty is in people more than it is the brick and mortar.

Danish Azar Zuby

Karachi

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There are so many people who claim a stake in the ownership of Karachi. This is a good thing. With the proliferation of social media, the history of Karachi, through pictures and words, is spreading around cyberspace like never before.

There’s no point in reminiscing about the city’s glorious past if we cannot protect and conserve these beautiful buildings today. Studying these structures, there’s much to learn about design, architecture, engineering, craftsmanship and materials used, such as stone, marble and wood. The claim to fame of famous cities of the world borders on these lines.

Why cannot Karachi reclaim its place in history?

Unfortunately, many old buildings have vanished for good, many are on the verge of crumbling and several have been abused beyond recognition. The governments of Pakistan and Sindh must take ownership of its heritage and salvage whatever is left of these edifices. This is our collective responsibility. We owe this to our future generations.

Karachi, my birthplace, is fervently looking for a messiah to salvage its pride. The Heritage Foundation is playing its part but an independent Karachi Heritage Authority, a private-public sector institution, is the call.

Menin Rodrigues

Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2018