Ardeshir Cowasjee’s call for saving parkland in Karachi

Posted on September 15, 2008 | 790 views
Filed Under Karachi, Opinion, Pakistan | 2 Comments

Dear Reader, welcome back!

I was reading this column by my favorite columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee in daily Dawn in which he has taken up the matter of Ahmad Ali Park, Kidney Hill and Gutter Baghicha, three disputed projects in Karachi. Those of you who know Cowasjee must be aware of his out-spoken demeanor especially when it comes to saving public space. In this write up he has asked for favor to protect the parkland of these three projects that is spread over 705 acres and writes,

 What the few of us battling losers, concerned with open spaces and parklands in this congested overpopulated city, really want is money from those who have money….

I wonder if this request should receive some response or not? Let it not fall on deaf ears. Besides, atleast being the ultimate grand losers, the public (so called awam), we must answer his following call,

….and vocal support from the public, the awam, who are the ultimate grand losers when they find themselves with a city in which open spaces, parks and beaches are few and far between.

Last but not least, Cowasjee has offered a viable and valuable idea to our newly elected president of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari in following words,

To battle the marauders, who are supported always by the government of the day, is not an easy job. But there is an alternative to battling. Can the all-powerful president of the republic Asif Ali Zardari come to the help of the people of Karachi, the city in which his wife was born, raised and schooled? Concerted cries of “Jeay Bhutto” will not keep her memory alive. He has named in remembrance of her a road in Rawalpindi and an airport in Islamabad. In Karachi what he can do is on each of these three open spaces build and nurture parks in her memory, erect monuments, plant trees and flowers, make them into areas of peace and tranquility where the poor and the rich may rest, breathe the air, even meditate, and in tranquillity remember the good done by Benazir Bhutto.

 

So, what is next? Nothing, I think, I have done what I can do to spread his word and support him and many like minded fellows with my voice. Now, it’s your turn to show up and say it loud, especially those who like me are in eternal love with Karachi being heart and soul of Sindh.

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2 Responses to “Ardeshir Cowasjee’s call for saving parkland in Karachi”

  1. Nayni on September 17th, 2008 8:11 pm

    Cowasjee is one of my favourite columnist … He keeps his eye on all issues of society and give proper space to the problems that directly relate to public.
    It is really good Dr. that you have tried to spread his words. I think we should not always rely on government to take notice of any issue and to act accordingly . It is also the duty of civil society to let authorities know what to do and where to do . Let’s hope local government of Karachi take a serious notice of Cowsjee’s coloumn.

  2. Dr Farrukh Malik on September 30th, 2008 3:36 am

    @Nayni: You are very much right!

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