Karachi Citizens Forum

23/01/2026

GUL PLAZA TRAGEDY
https://www.thenews.pk/print/1395028-gul-plaza-tragedy-karachi-citizens-forum-raises-concern-over-continued-inaction-administrative-negligence

KCF Meeting Glimpses contd.
PRESS RELEASE
Karachi Citizens Forum Meeting Raises Concerns Over Gul Plaza Rehabilitation, Fire Safety Failures, and Accountability.
Karachi — 24 January 2026
Karachi Citizens Forum reviewed the situation at Gul Plaza tragedy, stressing that the incident requires immediate attention, not political up Manship, of governance change or federal takeover, or blame games and conspiracy theories, making high drama of a very painful and grim tragedy that was preventable, which has left so many households in heartbreaking grief and grievous irreparable loss. This tragedy has exposed all the lapses and culpable failures of the present administration all the reprehensible cover ups on part of a very delinquent Govt and its department and nonfunctioning functionaries, as well as those who organize and head business houses and communities with such criminal irresponsibility.
And that this happens to a city that is the bread basket of Pakistan, in a nuclear armed country!! is cringe worthy for all it’s august Assemblies and its aspirants!!!
The Forum expressed grave concern over continued inaction and administrative negligence, and failure of compliance to safety rules by the building management committee. Karachi rank as the 3rd most unlivable city where, everyday there is a calamity, caused by its broken infrastructure, increase in roadside accidents with dumpers killing pedestrians and bikers, poisonous air pollution leading to a heavy increase in respiratory and gastric diseases garbage piles Sewerage overflows and a frightening increase in the crime graph of violence robberies and killings, and a huge brain drain... Adding to this is now unsafe safety precautions in commercial enterprises, malls and plazas. Incidents like this not only such erode confidence in the city's government ability to administer the city, build frustration anxiety, and anger, but also impact heavily on its economic status, as investment shys away from a city whose government is in hiatus and governance is inactive.
The meeting highlighted systemic failures in inspection and building-control mechanisms, including regulatory loopholes and negligence that allowed unsafe conditions to persist. The Forum stated that these failures may amount to criminal negligence, warranting a transparent and independent inquiry.
Serious fire safety shortcomings were discussed. It was noted that essential firefighting equipment was inadequate or missing, and that basic firefighter protective equipment — including breathing apparatus, oxygen masks, and protective suits — was not available, critically compromising emergency response capability. These deficiencies were described as evidence of criminal disregard for public safety.
The Karachi Citizens Forum demanded:
• Rehabilitation through reconstruction on the same site, with mandatory restoration of possession to all original occupants upon completion, supported by clear, written, and legally binding guarantees; no relocation, commercialization, or change of land use shall be permitted under any circumstances;
• Any interim arrangements to remain strictly temporary;
• A clear, binding timeline for reconstruction and rehousing;
• Active oversight by the Commissioner Karachi; and
• Inclusion of all relevant stakeholders — affected occupants, Fire Brigade, building-control authorities, and district administration — in the Inquiry Commission.
It was further resolved that all investigative and inquiry reports must be completed and submitted as soon as possible, placed on record, and shared with stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability.
Participants emphasized that, as responsible citizens, they are raising these concerns in the public interest and will continue to monitor developments closely until concrete, time-bound action is taken.
We cannot allow any, to ruin our city.
Karachi’s breakdown will eat into the vitals of Pakistan. If the rot is not stemmed now, It is the state of Pakistan and it's 25 crore s citizens that will be the losers.
Nargis Rahman Dr. Qaisar Sajjad
Convenor KCF Co-Convenor KCF

23/01/2026

GUL PLAZA TRAGEDY

Glimpses of KCF Meeting contd.

23/01/2026

THE GUL PLAZA TRAGEDY

Glimpses of KCF Meeting Continued ...

23/01/2026

GUL PLAZA TRAGEDY

KCF Meeting Contd.

23/01/2026

23/01/2026

GUL PLAZA TRAGEDY

Glimpses of KCF Meeting continued ...

23/01/2026

THE GUL PLAZA TRAGEDY - PROLONGED INFERNO, DEATH & DESTRUCTION!

The Karachi Citizens Forum (KCF) held a meeting to discuss the Gul Plaza tragedy, focusing on the grief, losses and urgent demands arising from the incident.

Ms.Nargis Rahman opened the discussion by sharing her conversations with shop owners, conveying their suffering, losses, and demands. Shayan briefed the forum on his site visit, describing the scenes as deeply painful and distressing. Other members also shared their views, stressing accountability, fire-safety failures, and the need for concrete action.

Participants in the discussion included:
Ms. Aquila Ismail (OPP), Ms. Nilofer Farrukh (Karachi Biennale),
Dr. Zaitun Umar,
Ms. Ayesha Islam (KCF Member),
Ms. Michiko Adil (President PWFFP),
Ms. Ayesha Durrani, and Ms. Rasha Tarek

It was decided that a visit will be arranged on Saturday to meet the mothers of the young boys who lost their lives, to express solidarity and listen directly to their concerns and demands.

21/12/2025

We participated in the Climate March at Frere Hall, 21st Dec2025 (The Winter Solstice Day)
Organized by Ahmed Shabbar of the Pakistan Maholliati Tahaffuz Movement, Against Climate Injustice.....
Supported by 16 organisations (including us ) who were present, and expressed their views strongly by powerful speeches and banners and a performance by Sheema Kirmani too.
It is time that we all realized how precarious the future of the world is and those who have been made vulnerable by the Industrialised and rich Global North whose greed increases despite the signals being given by nature the sea levels rising, extreme weather, melting of the glaciers, typhoons flooding agricultural losses... All being experienced in the less industrialised countries of the global South whose govts are far too passive and weak to control these immoral Behemoths. .. Some arrogantly have refused to, sign or ratify the Kyoto Protocol or the Paris Agreements.!
Pakistan is a long time sufferer. But it's own apathy in mitigating the impact of Climate change and the consequent fallout is pathetic.
Demand for Climate justice for Pakistan
and our Karachi remain unfulfiled.
Karachi, remains high in unliveability. Flooding and it's disastrous aftermath, after every rain bout, (horrendously in rural Sindh)
Air pollution caused by burning of fossil fuels, especially by Industrjial units, garbage burning high transport emissions, construction and broken roads dust, fills the hospitals with respiratory disease cases .. Waters pollution... untreated sewage and industrial waste (as sewage treatment plants still non functional) , all disposed in the sea affecting, port, beaches, destroying marine life, mangrove cover ,and entering our food chain,add to our gastric problems, deforestion and buildup of housing societies denies us the oxygen that gives energy and help to our depleted our immune system.
Of course it is only the vulnerable poor who suffer and will continue to suffer.?! Lackadasical as our Govt. is, the attitude of our people, both the educated elite, and the underprivileged masses who feel that Climate change is just incidental is pathetic too
There should have been many many more participating in this march.
Respect to Organizer's and the Sixteen organizations that participated and those who took out time to join and show they care.
Participating NGos
1. Pakistan Maholiati Tahaffuz Movement
2. Pakistan fisherfolk forum
3. Climate Action Center
4. Tehrik e Niswan
5. Roots for Equity
6. Caritas Pakistan
7. Progressive Student Federation
8. Climate Reach
9. Karachi Citizens Forum
10. Pakistan Womens Foundation for Peace
11. Women Democratic forum
12. Karachi Urban Lab
13. Climate Change Communication Club
14. Aurat March
15. IBAX Consultant
16. Sindh Moorat March

25/08/2025

The Karachi Citizens Forum organised a Press Conference on
Monday, 25th August 2025 on the topic “SHOULD KARACHI DROWN AFTER EVERY HEAVY RAINFALL?”

Speakers:
Ms. Nargis Rahman (Convenor KCF)
Dr. Qaisar Sajjad (Co-Convenor KCF)
Dr. Ghafoor Shoro Secretary General Pakistan Medical Association
Justice R Shaiq Usmani Former Judge of Sindh High Court
Mr. Mazhar Abbas Senior Journalist
Mr. Mohamad Tauheed Urban Planner & Researcher at Karachi Urban Lab
Ms. Mahnaz Rahman Council Member of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
Mr. Mahmood Alam Climate Expert

The press conference reviewed why Karachi drowns annually after every shower - be it light, heavy or very heavy; Why the city gets flooded and figuratively drowns with a painful loss of precious lives, property, livelihoods, business and schools closures, traffic jams and endless trauma of school children, the sick and the aged standing or driving in vehicles, stranded in the downpour in overflowing sewage water, with no help from any official quarters.

The city after 5 days, is stinking and it's administrative flaws exposed as many areas remain flooded with a sewage water mix, traffic jams on pot holed roads and fear as to what the next deluge forecast for 27th August will bring!

Disease will definitely be a serious aftermath as rusted sewage and drinking pipelines and boring wells will be contaminated, and the water pools and rotting garbage become welcome spots for dengue mosquitoes!!
The Citizens are rightly furious - this fire fighting management, that is a management fiasco, must stop!

Why should our CM, the Mayor, the Commissioner and their officials don raincoats during the downpour and guide the cleanup operations and not perform their administrative roles earlier as those responsible for governing the city in their chambers and ensure that the necessary work is completed soon after they receive the Mets forecast?! Their presence during the downpour is a damning and damaging expression of Karachi's, administrative and management failure.

Karachi is the 12th largest cities of the world; it has suffered the shameful rank of being amongst the 5 most unlivable cities of the world since two decades!

For a decade the nemesis of Climate change looms, and everyone in administrative authority is aware or should be aware of it and what dangers it holds for the city and the country.

Every year The Meteorological Bureau and the NDMA issue weather warnings on Karachi 's monsoon. This year too a heavy rain forecast was made, but the chronic endemic unpreparedness was repeated and the city suffered another devastating flooding, causing the usual losses, mourning and anger.

Nothing new was said or added to what we have been recommending every year. There are newspaper reports and worthy articles as to why Karachi is punished in this manner when all are aware of it's position as the Golden Goose that funds the country's provincial and national exchequers, gives livelihood to all who live or migrate to it. It is shocking that it is allowed to be devasted in this manner. What was the economic loss to the city in these 5 days? Rupees 15 billion!

Karachi has its problems of an unchecked ever growing population; this is a burden on an inadequate, unrepaired infrastructure and a fragmented governance system but other big cities who carry the same problems, do manage. Mumbai was flooded after a massive deluge, Karachi gets flooded with just a slight downpour!

The expert speakers gave their analyses and recommendations as to why it drowns and how this can be stopped. Both the Federal government and the provincial government have a duty to see that Karachi is governed satisfactorily.

The Karachi Mayor has many auxiliary bodies to support KMC's working, like the TMCs, the NDMA, the new Task Force, the Commissionerate and several of its departments. He is Chairman of KWSC and the KSWMB. The expenditures of the city must be prioritized according to the citizens needs and not wasted on underpasses or recreation spots that have no immediate need. Already too much has been misspent and without accountability.

A proper authority must be set up with qualified town planners and consultants whose workings are published and the city's notable stake holders must be it's members. Much of the infrastructure mess is due to the absence of competent consultants, honest supervisors and quality materials.
We recommend an apex body to control the various land owning authorities and civic bodies of the city, to ensure cohesion and collaboration between their workings.

A City Plan that is relevant to the city's present needs and future growth is much needed yet that plan remains elusive to date.

Controlling migration to the city must be effected.

There should be transparency and accountability in expenditures, allocations and utilization of funds marked for the city's infrastructure

We recommend digitization of the city's management and official records.

Unfinished infrastructure projects including the mass public transport system must be accelerated as well as all dysfunctional water treatment plants, with immediacy.

Rain water drainage system and the sewerage system MUST be separated

All offenders must be penalised such as:
• Negligent officials
• Encroachers
• Litterers
• Plastic bags makers and sellers

Karachi should be treated like the megapolis of a modern progressive country and not made into a wasteland that it is now.

Pakistan Zindabad!

Nargis Rahman
Convenor KCF

23/08/2025

Rainfall is a Blessing but every time it rains in Karachi, there is calamity and suffering - the city gets paralysed and its citizens traumatised with a painful loss of precious human lives, property, livelihoods and a huge hit on the economy.

WHY? and WHO is Responsible? It's not just climate change
and if it is why
are we chronologically UNPREPARED?!

It's a big city with an abundance of negligent authorities and an apathetic citizenry.
But it can be fixed, provided the "will" is there!

KCF is holding a press conference. Please come. Your support matters!

14/08/2025

14th AUGUST is a very important day for all of us.

It's the day that gave us a country we hoped would be a "home". Our salute, tribute, homage and thanks to those who sacrificed to make it a reality and to those who are trying, even today, to not give up, and to reclaim it as the Promised Land of freedom, sovereignty, democracy, rights and justice for all, where we can live with dignity in peace and security - TRULY FREE!
Aameen 🌺

Our fervent prayer:
PAKISTAN PAINDABAD!

28/07/2025

A Rare Oasis in a Maddeningly Bustling City - The Mangrove Biodiversity Park, Karachi.

Lady members of The Karachi Citizens Forum visited the Mangrove Biodiversity Park located along Korangi Creek in Karachi, last week at the invitation of its Administrator Mr. Shah Murad Aliani to Mrs Nargis Rahman Convenor of the Karachi Citizens Forum.

She was joined by keen environmentalists and educators - Michiko Aadil, Dr. Aliya Rahman, Ayesha Islam, Shanaz Ramzi, Bushra Rizvi, Dr. Yasmeen Kazi, Rabia Shadab & Humaira Mustafa. The Park is a yet to be discovered natural reserve in Karachi.

Developed in partnership between TPL Properties and the Sindh Forest Department, this coastal conservation park exemplifies eco‑tourism rooted in sustainable design.

Mr. Shah Murad Aliani, the Administrator, graciously received us at the entrance and took us on a guided tour of the Park. He led us down an architecturally amazing pontoon walkway - a floating bridge - 0.75 km long - the longest in Pakistan. An immersive experience, co-designed by architect Tariq Qaiser, the Park took two years to complete.

As we sat in the meditation centre, surrounded by mangroves, we were given the important information that this project is also going for water remediation, for waste and sewage to treat the degraded eco system. The UN has pledged support for the project. There are plans to extend the walkway and construct a bird watch tower as well.

Our pulse rates had lowered by the end of our hour long visit in this rejuvenating space.

From the reception, a meandering floating boardwalk—constructed using repurposed materials, led us through the heart of the mangrove forest. The boardwalk offers peaceful passage above the brackish water, among prop roots and dense vegetation.

In the middle of the Park, there's a floating learning center, a hexagonal bamboo‑framed structure, with a thatched roof. It serves as a hub for educational programs, talks, meditation activities and presentations focused on ecosystem restoration and climate resilience.

The mangroves are home to birds, fish, crabs, prawns, insects and other wildlife.
They protect Karachi's shoreline during storms, serve as nurseries for marine life, sequester carbon, cool the urban heat, and help sustain local fisheries - thus having both environmental and socio‑economic value.

At the learning centre, we enjoyed panoramic views of the creek and forest and the cool breeze on an otherwise hot day, and the magical sound of the water lapping against the boardwalk.

Signage along the path and around the learning centre — crafted from recycled wood—provides bilingual information in Urdu and English on species identification, ecological functions, and safety guidelines.

Mr. Aliani told us how they've engaged community groups for conservation. Small groups of students (above 10 years old) from educational institutions and other, members of the community have been invited from time to time - to visit the facilities and connect with nature. Student groups have taken part in mangrove planting activity during low tide, for mangrove restoration, better coastal resilience and improved fishermen's livelihood.

The Park is overseen by an independent advisory board comprising experts from academia, forestry, conservation and climate change sectors, ensuring its operations meet both national and international environmental standards.

Our visit to the park was both educational and refreshing. It's not too far from the city centre. One can enjoy intimate contact with nature within the bustling metropolitan of Karachi.

The floating facilities - which are the longest in Pakistan - provided an immersive experience.
Conservation initiatives like this park are vital for protecting Karachi’s remaining coastal ecosystems. They offer a model for sustainable interaction between urban development, local communities, and the environment—preserving biodiversity, mitigating climate risk, and inspiring environmental awareness in all who visit. Many more interesting facilities are to be added.

This Park is a must visit, It is not yet open to the public but it will be soon.