After torrential rains created unprecedented crisis-like conditions in Karachi, Pakistani celebrities have taken to social media to call out the ineffective policies of the government.
Muneeb Butt slammed PTI, PPP and MQM-P over the situation Karachi is currently in and accused them of passing the buck to one another and not doing enough for the city.
“PTI says it has the mandate in the city but after the 18th Amendment, the provincial government is responsible for the civic matters,” he said, adding, “PPP says they are unable to work because they are denied the agreed share under the NFC.”
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Shaniera Akram, wife of Wasim Akram, took to Twitter to express her disbelief and outrage at the footage she was seeing from across the city.
Can’t believe the footage coming out of Karachi. Bypass’ filled with water, ship containers & cars floating down highways, back yards become pools & street turned into rivers: The city that has no water is now under water. My Prayers are with you Karachi
— Shaniera Akram (@iamShaniera) August 27, 2020
Describing the horrific scene, she sent her prayers to the city and the people suffering.
Well .. I am at work right now .. wondering how I am going to make it back home .. I guess I may have to call a water Uber .. 💁🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
— Mehwish Hayat TI (@MehwishHayat) August 27, 2020
Mehwish Hayat also became victim to the disaster the rain caused, wondering if she would be able to make it back home.
A different kind of view
But as it turns out, not all celebrities seem to have the same perspective. While some have been offering support at a much needed time others have taken a stance that seems much more tone-deaf and ill-timed.
1/2 No doubt the government didn’t care about the city but did we ! time to stop complaining & do something on our own & fix atleast our own colony issues in Karachi ! We can’t even stop throwing the garbage everywhere we like. Gov doesn’t have a magic wand! #KarachiRains
— URWA TUL WUSQUA HOCANE (@VJURWA) August 27, 2020
Urwa Hocane has come under fire for her stance on the rains disaster. According to the famous actress, the disaster is the fault of those who throw garbage on the streets. Now she’s not wrong in calling out the practice of littering, but her tweet seems to exonerate government policies and lack of development at a time when the crises have gone far beyond the impact of throwing wrappers on the streets.
2/2 It’s the people who have to work hand in hand with the gov ! How many of you can come up with a solution. Why don’t we start somewhere . Sab kuch government ka kaam nahi hota. Khud bhi kuch sochein, haath pey haath rakh k baithnay k ilawa ! #KarachiRains
— URWA TUL WUSQUA HOCANE (@VJURWA) August 27, 2020
Its also interesting how she thinks citizens should do something other than ‘haath pey haath rakh ke baithna’, when it is infact those very citizens organising relief efforts and rescues because of the government’s ineffectiveness.
It’s also not just a one time issue. Pakistan’s disaster relief has a history of being citizen-led to a great extent. This disaster in particular has to do with so much more than the role of Karachi’s people. It is the culmination of a long history of ill-planned development that has left drainage systems ill-equipped and clogged in dealing with such situations, neglect of the climate change crisis, and years worth of corruption in the system that has political powers shifting blame rather than taking action.
So yes, while people do have a responsibility to their city, it’s hard to carry that responsibility out when their lives are at risk in their very homes.
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