Karachi: Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, in collaboration with the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), organized a memorial event on the first death anniversary of renowned social and labour rights leader and PILER founder, Karamat Ali. The event took place at Auditorium II, Ahmed Shah Building.
The gathering was attended by a large number of social activists and trade union leaders, including veteran labour leader and President of People’s Labour Bureau Sindh, Habibuddin Junaidi, Dr. Jaffar Ahmed, Dr. Ayub Shaikh, Sheema Kermani, and political leader Nasreen Jalil.
Renowned scholar Dr. Jaffar Ahmed, while addressing the audience, said Karamat Ali was a multifaceted personality — a revolutionary with strong ideological beliefs that led him into the trade union movement, where he emerged as a leading voice. He consistently advocated for peace and democracy and remained committed to the rights of women and minorities. He played a vital role in institution-building and left a legacy of structural reform. “We must reconnect our struggle for peace,” Dr. Ahmed emphasized, “and the working class must rise to resolve regional issues through dialogue.”
Nasreen Jalil said, “Karamat Ali may no longer be physically among us, but today, his presence feels more powerful than life itself. It is time for all of us to awaken — the mission he began must be preserved and carried forward. His heart was always close to the welfare of workers and the marginalized. Karamat Ali was someone who extended help to everyone, and he envisioned a society free of class divisions between the rich and the poor. He was not just an individual — he was an idea, a movement, a guiding light.
Dr. Riaz Ahmed Shaikh stated that whenever we speak of workers, Karamat Ali’s name will be remembered with reverence. “He was a globally recognized figure who stood for all, beyond caste, creed, or class,” he said. “He taught people how to claim their rights and inspired others to do the same. Karamat Ali was a flowing river of knowledge.”
Qamar ul Hassan noted that the most significant aspect of Karamat Ali’s life was his unwavering commitment to workers’ education and trade union empowerment. “He was a master in every field and always spoke for the upliftment of the working class,” he added.
Renowned classical dancer and social activist Sheema Kermani paid tribute to Karamat Ali by performing a powerful interpretive dance titled “Awaaz”
In a heartfelt tribute, Karamat Ali’s grandsons, Sheheryar and Aalyan, recited a poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, which received warm appreciation from the audience.
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