KARACHI: Eminent historian and author Karen Armstrong said on Tuesday that people needed to promote humanity and harmony among themselves and avoid mutual conflicts.

She was addressing the participants in the inauguration ceremony of a school and playground for poor children established under the Qayyumabad flyover.

The project titled ‘Bridges Compassionate Community Centre’ was launched by the Charter for Compassion Pakistan with the collaboration of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.

The school established in four containers was inaugurated jointly by Ms Armstrong and KMC Municipal Commissioner Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman.

The programme was also attended by president of Charter for Compassion Pakistan Amin Hashwani, and other office-bearers of the NGO.

Lauding the efforts of the Charter for Compassion Pakistan and the KMC, the eminent historian and author of several books on religions said that the utilisation of places under city bridges and flyover was revolutionary. “This is a wonderful idea. I haven’t seen such utilisation of spaces under bridges anywhere in the world,” she said.

Speaking on the occasion, the metropolitan commissioner urged the citizens to own their city and play their role in solving its problems and making it a better city.

He said non-governmental organisations and the persons associated with the welfare of masses and social work should work to promote education in the children of poor and less-privileged areas of the city so that they could become useful citizens of society.

“The locations beneath bridges and flyovers can be utilised for better purpose and constructive activities which is the best use of these open spaces and also to save [them] from illegal activities and encroachments,” he added.

Dr Rehman said that the classrooms were established in four containers after refurbishment. “One of the classrooms is soundproof where over 40 children from poor families have been admitted,” he added.

The municipal commissioner said that the area under different bridges and flyovers in the city had either been encroached upon or occupied by vagabond drug addicts. He said that a campaign had already been launched to remove all encroachments under the bridges.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2018