Highlighting the challenges Karachi face, speakers at a programme emphasised the need for collaboration among multiple stakeholders to remove the pressure from the already weak and poor infrastructure and services available to residents.The event titled ‘Karachi Urban Resilience Roundtable’ was organised by the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) the other day.
In his speech, Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Iqbal Memon focused on the major urban challenges of Karachi and suggested that plans for climate resilient infrastructure would be the key for future success.
He emphasised on the need for transformation of the way public places were designed and planned.
Acknowledging the need for collaboration between stakeholders, he stated: “As a society, we need to change. We are shouldering a responsibility to work together. Let’s hope a change can be made that can benefit our future generations.”
The first panel of the discussion focused on the challenges surrounding the mega city.
Moderated by senior urban planner Farhan Anwar, it included Additional Commissioner Karachi Syed Jawad Muzaffar, KE official Naz Khan, UNDP’s Ammara Durrani and Karachi Water Supply & Sewerage Services Project Director Syed Salahuddin as panellists. Dr Noman Ahmed, Professor and Dean, Faculty of Architecture and Management Sciences, NED University, who moderated the second panel discussion focusing on Karachi’s urban development in coming years, said physical space was of utmost importance and so was planning.
“Planning is about the future. Plans that are made for the citizens should provide them with opportunities to make a better living,” he said.
The panellists of the second session included Click (Competitive and Livable city of Karachi) Project Director Asif Siddiqui, Karachi Urban Lab at IBA Director Dr Nausheen Anwar and journalist Mahim Maher.
