Written by: Amir Khan
Karachi Pakistan : Gull Plaza in Karachi has burnt to ashes. Billions in investment have turned into dust, and most tragically, several precious human lives have been extinguished forever. But the question remains: Was this really an “accident”? Or was this a disaster we had been waiting for all along?
*Accident or Criminal Negligence?*
If any reputable engineering firm in the world were to inspect these buildings, they would declare them a “Death Trap” in an instant. Dilapidated structures, no emergency evacuation routes, and no fire suppression systems. We are obsessed with only one thing: *”Keep earning, keep expanding shops.”*
When it comes to safety, our national narrative takes over: “Allah is the Protector, He will handle it.” We forget that Allah has also commanded us to use our intellect. This is not faith (Tawakkul); this is suicide.
*Infrastructure and Executive Apathy*
From the Town Nazim to the Mayor, Chief Minister, Prime Minister, and powerful circles—no single institution is delivering results. The entire infrastructure has collapsed.
* In the modern world, buildings undergo annual “Safety Audits.” If fire equipment is missing, the shop is sealed.
* Here, clusters of tangled wires on poles are an open invitation to death.
* Sewers are overflowing, and roads are broken.
*The Famine of Skill and Brain Drain*
The most dangerous aspect is that our skilled and capable workforce is fleeing abroad in despair. We are left only with the “unskilled.”
* Our firefighters lack modern training and equipment, so the fire doesn’t get extinguished.
* The road engineers are incompetent, so the roads wash away in the first rain.
* There are no vocational institutes to provide affordable training. The result? The sweeper cannot clean the gutter, the electrician cannot fix the wire, and the farmer cannot grow the crop efficiently.
*Wealthy Rulers, Poor Masses, and a Ruined City*
On one hand, the city is burning, and people are starving for basic amenities. On the other hand, the ruling elite spends millions on wedding outfits and billions on decorations for their children. This elite class is united in protecting one another, but for the public, they have only “hollow words.”
*The Murder of Modern Planning*
Across the world, old “Downtowns” are preserved, and new cities are established. Here, modern projects like *Bahria Town*, which could have served as a model for alternative lifestyles and satellite towns, were destroyed due to personal vendettas and political interests. Instead of building ten more such cities to relieve the burden on old Karachi, we blocked the path to modernity.
*What Happens Next? The Same Old Story*
Officials will arrive, make somber faces for the cameras, form an inquiry committee, announce some compensation (which may never be paid), and then everyone will forget… until the next tragedy. Because in a crowd of 260 million, a few lost lives are, to them, like “salt in flour”—negligible.
*The Way Forward (The Solution)*
If we truly want to break this cycle of destruction, these emergency measures are required:
1. Establishment of Satellite Towns:* Wholesale markets in the old city must be immediately shifted to modern “Commercial Zones” or satellite towns outside the city, equipped with parking, fire safety, and wide roads.
2. Mandatory Fire Safety Training:* “Civil Defense Training” and the installation of fire extinguishers must be made mandatory for every shopkeeper and trader, subject to an annual audit.
3. Technical Training Institutes:* The government must open free technical training centers in every town on an emergency basis to produce skilled firefighters, electricians, and workers.
4. Insurance Culture:* Business without insurance is unheard of in the rest of the world. It must be made legally mandatory here so that traders do not end up on the streets in case of a loss.
5. Politics-Free Development:* Modern housing and commercial projects (like Bahria Town, etc.) should be regulated and supported rather than being targeted for political revenge, so that a network of modern infrastructure can be laid across the city.
The decision is ours. Do we want to become part of the modern world, or do we want to sit on piles of ashes and mourn forever?
Written by: Amir Khan.
