Alamgir Khan caught headlines recently with his “Fix it” campaign. His objective was to draw attention to the apathy of the official machinery when it came to their basic responsibilities to the city. Now, the social media campaigner and civil activist who started the #FixIt movement to solve Karachi’s unnoticed issues has released an app for others who want to assist him in his campaign.
Backgrounder on Alamgir Khan’s Journey
The activist became a news headline after his campaign went viral on the social media. He drew CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah’s face near open manholes and uploaded the photos to different social networks. The idea was to highlight problems by getting the required authority’s attention. His campaign looks to solve the common man’s unnoticed problems.
Not too long ago, a case was registered against Alamgir and he was accused for hitting someone with his car. Despite the provincial government’s propaganda, the guy has been hard at work with his campaign. His work forced the Chief Minister’s hand as he asked Karachi’s administrator to cover up all manholes in Karachi within 48 hours.
Alamgir himself took initiative with some concerned citizens to do something about the issue. He asked citizens of Karachi for help via social media. Working with several supporters, he successfully covered up 42 manholes in 6 hours. He claims it cost the campaigners just Rs. 13,000 to cover up this many manholes and that this the beginning of #Fixit #karachi campaign.
#Fixit Goes Mobile
In the next phase of the Fix It campaign, a Fixit app has been released. The app expands the campaign even further and activists can share their campaigns on social networks using the app. The campaigns are no longer limited to manholes and anything from taking care of homeless children to garbage disposal will do. Its the natural and literal evolution of the #FixIt campaign.
The app (currently rated at 4.9 stars) can be downloaded from the Google Play Store here. At the moment, there isn’t an iOS version of the app.
With this app, the Fixit campaigners hope to get even more people on their side. Alamgir says his way of protest does not cause problems. He says his silent protest is a platform for others to have their say and get our country fixed or take the initiative into our own hands.
The usual kind of protests include road blocks and tyre burning, causing problems for fellow citizens, something that’s counterproductive for all stakeholders involved. It is hoped that the #FixIt campaign heralds a civil and more results-based approach to protests and problem-solving by the citizenry in the city’s largest metropolis.
You can follow Alamgir Khan’s Facebook activities here.
can i nominate PTCL in this campaign.. !
Dude you forget the mother of all K-Electric should be on the top of the list
I downloaded it and will use it for sure
Amazing initiative. I would really to use #FixIt in a lot of locations of Lahore. Mofos won’t listen to common citizen’s complaints anyway.
Social Media is our last hope to resolve our long-lasting street issue, no one did anything regarding sewerage line, which was choked two month before, prayers people, school going children, women and office going people are badly affected, while our water and sewerage board still sleeps, I including neighborhood also registered several complains
to commissioner office that they instructed to W&SB to resolve the issue
but its looks that W&SB is unwilling to doing their job.
Moreover, I also wrote email to MD water and sewerage board but it’s seem that he ignored it, please give some coverage to this issue; we will be thankful to you.