A score of Pakistani celebrities has taken to Twitter to call out incompetent government officials, both past and present, for their neglect of the biggest and most populated city of Pakistan, Karachi.
According to the meteorological department, downpours in August have shattered 89-year-old records for the city. Official statistics said some 45 people have been killed since the ongoing spell struck the city Aug. 6.
https://twitter.com/um_e_salma/status/1300369102427639809
Footage aired on the local broadcaster Dunya News showed armed forces personnel and civilian rescue agencies’ workers using rubber boats to rescue the stranded people in the northern and western districts of the port city, which according to Meteorological Department, has received 120% more rains in August compared to the last year.
Read more: Karachi: Who converted the city of lights into a city of garbage?
Authorities have appealed to the citizens to say indoors as more rains are expected during the next 24 to 48 hours.
Stay indoors with no power as Karachi swims away
This was 26th street DHA Karachi, my neighborhood….this is why I was worried about my family, my father. What we have witnessed in Karachi today was apocalyptic in some ways. The true hurt & damage will be visible after the water recedes. Nothing but devastation. #KarachiRain pic.twitter.com/loWHBQ1rZC
— Fakhr-e-Alam S.I & S.E (@falamb3) August 27, 2020
The havoc wreaked on Karachi by the torrential rains is a recurring phenomena and was bound to get worse with time. One of the most valued and expensive real estate areas in the metropolitan city, Defence Housing Authority (DHA), has shown that planning for something as basic as a drainage system for the respective area is an elusive concept that is forgotten by all authorities when they are working on developing Karachi.
Welcome to #DHA #karachi pic.twitter.com/axq9zxC29B
— Usama Qureshi (@UsamaQureshy) August 29, 2020
Pakistan has been given a reality check yet again of how the country is still lacking in areas it should not have to worry about. The areas that are water-clogged in Karachi and currently underwater have been developed either recently or for quite some time, and any developed area should not be facing such problems planning was put into the development process by Pakistani authorities.
I’m heartbroken for my city and for its people. My people. I want answers. #KarachiRains #KarachiSinks #KarachiNeedsAttention #KarachiUnderWater
— Ayesha Omar (@ayesha_m_omar) August 28, 2020
Backlash and disappointment are natural reactions to a negligent government that was unable to predict a disaster that takes place every year without fail in the monsoon season.
With the videos I’m seeing, the stories I’m hearing, its a National Emergency situation. People are homeless, stuck on the streets, or being swept away. Are there relief packages being prepared? Is help coming? When? @MuradAliShahPPP #SindhGovt #KarachiSinks #KarachiRain
— Ayesha Omar (@ayesha_m_omar) August 27, 2020
Pakistani celebrities are calling out the authorities in Karachi for help and damage control while the authorities are running late as always, nowhere to be found, or they are playing down the situation in attempts to save their own faces.
Mehwish Hayat and Iqra Aziz take to twitter
My anger knows no abounds. How can a modern city like #Karachi not have the infrastructure to cope with rain in 2day's age?Our suffering over the past few days proves that those responsible need to be held accountable!Heads have to roll or this’ll keep happening.Enough is enough!
— Mehwish Hayat TI (@MehwishHayat) August 30, 2020
Pakistani celebrity, Mehwish Hayat, displayed her anger over the tragedy, and the government neglect that lead to it, by posting on social media platform twitter, holding that “heads have to roll” or otherwise there will be no stop to this on-going disaster that has plagued Karachi for god knows how long.
An absolutely heartbreaking state of affairs! #Karachi needs immediate attention followed by urgent corrective action. The situation resulting from the absolute apathy of those in positions power must change. Enough of all the tall claims – time to walk the talk.
#KarachiRain pic.twitter.com/TjPW1ml95o
— IqraAzizHussain (@iqraazizhussain) August 26, 2020
Iqra Aziz, one of Pakistan’s up and coming actor/model, showed sorrow and grief over the tragic incident that took the lives of many innocent Pakistanis. Like Mehwish, she also called out the people in power. Iqra bashed the authorities for being apathetic to the problems faced by the people of Pakistani society and pushed for “urgent corrective action” to be taken by people who are in charge.
Read more:PM Imran promises to ‘act, resolve’ major problems of hapless Karachi
She ended her post with “Enough of all the tall claims – time to walk the talk”, a sentiment shared by Pakistanis all over as they get tired of listening to the governments deluded plans, grand schemes that are bound to fail and most of all idiotic excuses to save face instead of owning up to their failures.
Shahid Afridi: it is criminal to remain silent over Karachi
Shahid Afridi added that the city has been ignored since ages- none of the ruling parties ever owned the city. He said he has been watching the city being ruined since his childhood. He went on to say that it is shameful that the younger generation including his children is witnessing the same devastation of the city.
Read more: Furious Shahid Afridi slams political parties for post-rain destruction in Karachi
He mentioned the grave issues of Karachi city- improper waste disposal, urban flooding, dilapidated roads, dysfunctional sewage system in his tweets. He added that long power failures during and post-rain exacerbates the woes of the citizen.
https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1298310388656664576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1298310388656664576%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalvillagespace.com%2Ffurious-shahid-afridi-slams-political-parties-for-post-rain-destruction-in-karachi%2F
Shahid Afridi argued that irrespective of political affiliations all the concerned stakeholders have failed to construct and support the largest revenue-generating city.
Standing up for Karachi
Celebrities and everyday civilians are all pushing for authorities to be held accountable. The authorities now must rise up to the challenge posed by the natural disaster or wave their power and influence goodbye as the drowning city and its citizens now furious over the incompetence will not stay quiet any longer.
Residents of #DHA & #Clifton have gathered outside the @DHAKarachiOfc and #Clifton Cantonment Board in #Karachi #KarachiRains #ڪامران_خان_شرم_ڪر @HamidMirPAK pic.twitter.com/MGaY3iTtsT
— Sindh Leaks سنڌ ليڪس (@Sindhleak) August 31, 2020
When she can come out to protest why can’t everyone else? #DHA #CBC #Karachi #KarachiSinks #KarachiRain pic.twitter.com/moJBtTvDkc
— Usama Qureshi (@UsamaQureshy) August 31, 2020
Karachi needs immediate attention and all the help it can get. Planning for future disasters must top the list of priorities for Pakistan’s government, so another episode of #Karachiswims doesn’t take place. The true damage caused by the disaster is still unknown and will be visible after the situation subsides.
News Desk