This blog is for the class of BS Social Sciences II-B.
This blog serves the function of writing and reflecting about the problems we face in Pakistan and do give alternative solutions to make Pakistan a better country with relevance of the course 'Social Policy'.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Ist Session: Social Policy
This will be our blog for reflection on the discussion in class, Please invite everyone and post your reflections here.
On first session, we talked about Our experience in Karachi, post your articles of first session here.
Karachi society has progressed through the past decade or so. Karachi may not be the most entertaining city in the world but you adapt to the life in Karachi and once you do the life is not as bad as initially. When you spend time in Karachi you learn to love it and it forms a special bond. I personally prefer living in Karachi rather than going abroad given that it is more secure and there are less threats around. Hopefully Karachi will keep progressing and one day it will be one of the greatest city in the world. - Belal Rizvi
Kamila Shamsie said the song that defines Karachi for her is 'Where the streets have no name' by U2. Karachi is a living , breathing organism. It has it's own thought process, its own culture, history, lifespan. It has elements of all the cultures of Pakistan. In my opinion it would be incorrect to name one particular dominant Karachi culture. That is why i feel so close to the city- huge , mysterious, fast paced and multi-faceted, Karachi belongs to no one.
For me Karachi is home, it is where I come from and well sometimes everyone has this urge to run away from home, to be somewhere, anywhere else. But in the end it is to go home is what one craves. My home in Karachi is not just my room or my house or my colony, it goes beyond that, to different parts of Karachi, tiny pockets- polluted as they may be- where I have experienced love, life, beautiful memories and crazy times. Karachi is the home I would turn to whatever the case may be, the it is the place would always want to turn back to. - Nida Noman
Karachi is the largest city in our country and also one of the largestand busiest in the world. It houses people from diffrent religious,ethnic and cultural backgrounds be it parsis, hindus, christians ormuhajirs, bengalis, pathans etc. Karachi is Pakistan's economic huband center for its trade, banking, finances. It houses most of therevenue generating industries which contribute towards Pakistan'searnings. The major reason which attracts people from all over thecountry is the availability of employment opportunities. Small scalejobs as well as jobs in big multi national firms are available herewhich shows the diversity of people living here. I believe that it isrightly called the city of bright lights and the bride of citiesbecause of its vibrant culture and liveliness. One would find theother cities in the country like lahore and islamabad to be peacefulcalm and relaxing but for a pure karachite its very difficult tosettle there. Theses places are good for vacationing but when it comesto settling in a place, i believe karachi is most fun and suitable.Sadly, in recent years a number of gangs and mafias have evolved inthe city who are continuing to spoil the peace here. They are creatingdiffrences amongst the people on religious, sectarian and culturalbackgrounds as a result of which intolerance is increasing rapidlywhich leads to criminal acts. As a larger percentage of people do nothave sufficient educational backgrounds, they easily come under theirinfluence. In order to restore the city's peace and harmony we shoulddecrease the diffrences that people have created amongst themselvesand become more tolerant and respectful for each other's believes andalso make quality education acessible for all, only then this citywill prosper. =)
Being born and brought up in Karachi I've always considered it home.
One thing that I like about Karachi is its diversity in food; from Pakistani cuisine on the 'thelas' to the cuisines from other countries; italian cuisine, chinese cuisine, you name it and it is available in Karachi. However, the best part is how the karachiites add their own taste to the other cuisines. Addition of one spice can change the entire dish. This is what I love about Karachi the most that here the people are always ready to make innovations whether it be a chef in a kitchen, or a thela owner on the road or a businessman in his airconditioned office.
Also the set up of big bazars in Karachi like sunday bazar or wedesday bazar where almost everything is available from clothes, bags, accessories, shoes, to electronics, crockery, grocessory, books, and food, gives Karachi a distinct culture. These bazars are places where people from all walks of life are present. These bazars are the best examples of the diversity in this city.
Even though there is a small part of Karachi intolerant to diversity but there are also us who are tolerant to it and consider it our strenght.
The diversity of people, their experiences and the diversity in their ideas to innovate is what makes Karachi.
Karachi is my city and I like the life here which which is a mixture of rabbits and tortoises running together. I do agree that Karachi is surrounded by many social problems which we blame the government for but it is time for us to realize that not all can be done or corrected by them. We should realize our responsibility as the people of this city to build it on individual level as small drops combine to make an ocean. First individual step should be respect and tolerance for all other religions and ethnic groups. Life here can be made better if all the people try to make an effort to lead Karachi to harmonious lifestyle.
Karachi is a vibrant place to live in. Life here is too fast paced though, for my liking. I consider it to be a city of opportunities and hopes. Every morning I see so many laborers from various parts of the country waiting to get hired or to find some employment for the day. With every sun down people do return to their homes with shattered dreams but each new day renews their hopes and the faith they have in this city. This is one of the things I really love about Karachi. Moreover being a multi cultural city, it offers a wide variety of options in every aspect of life; be it food or entertainment in general. The diversity here is what makes this city so lively and colorful.
Karachi is the city I was born in and have been living in for nearly two decades. It is the heart and artery of the city. People from all sorts of ethnicities, sects and backgrounds come, settle and live here. It is a welcoming city and has withstood significant increases in population year after year. It has bore the brunt of the country’s economic and social responsibilities; carrying a huge weight on its shoulders. People find job opportunities here more than other parts of the country. The port in Karachi makes economic activity much easier. Vital trade is carried out in this city without which Pakistan would be in further disarray. Some of the most educated people in this country live in and have studied in Karachi which has some magnificent schools. The city is a source of pride not only for Karachi-ites but for the whole nation. It is a fast-paced city and that should not be misinterpreted as a case of people not stopping for you or caring for you. Rather, it should be seen as an example of the fact that people here are not lazy and are hard-working. Karachi may not have grand mosques like Shah Faisal in Islamabad and Badshahi in Lahore but it doesn’t complain and is complex in its simplicity. It did not waste its time with the Lawyers Movement in 2007 as most of the lawyers protests were in other parts of the country. It is definitely a terrific asset for the country.
There are bits of Karachi's society that have a very rigid way of thinking. They do not accept change and are intolerant. They like to interfere and comment and enjoy passing around inappropriate remarks. Our society in many ways lacks freedom of thought, speech, freedom of dressing or just freedom in general. People who dress differently, or have wild dreams which they intend to pursue or just live their lives in a manner which is not defined by the rules of the society, are looked down upon and talked about and are unappreciated. Our society lacks trust and respect and it tends to go to extremes. It may be warm and welcoming at times, even encouraging, but it is not without its flaws. Despite all this, I love my city. It has given me a life which is great in many ways and I am thankful for that. And I wish to pay it back someday, in any way I can.
Karachi is divrse city like all the big cities of the world, this city has its own problems.I want to write abut the problems of this city with respect to 'Social Scieces' and how the change can be brought on major scale by keeing the 'Social Policy' context in mind.
The political scenerio cannot be over-looked in this regard, it has affected this city alot.Karachi is the back bone of Pakistan in terms of economy and resources, and this city has suffered alot in the history, Pakistan depends on karachi alot.
The political bargain was on the roads of karachi in the form of murders, the language and ethinic violence plays its part too,which is the threat to the existece of the state, we need a policy which promtes unity among us, keeping the differences aside.
The other major problems are the crime and use of illegal weapons, it is very important to de-weaponize karachi, so that the we can get rid of terrorism.
The traffic is issue, thought the govt has done its job in making better roads, but the population is growing so are the problems of this city.
Child labor has been a problem,you can see the children on the road at the age of 5-6 begging or working,which is the global issue, NGO's should work on this issue in Pakistan.
Social policy Week 1 Reflection: Social policy- What comes to my mind when I think of this word are the policies or regulations to maintain human existence and deal with human behavior in society. Social Policy is an important part of Social Sciences and it helps us know the society and its people in a better way. In our first week of the Social Policy course, we talked about the Pakistani society and Karachi as a city where we were born and our sentiments towards it. I was quite happy with the fact that people truly love and respect Pakistan for all that it’s given us. It is OUR nation and we can live here freely without a threat to our lives. Putting aside the current situation of our city, we are still proud Pakistanis and we should be proud of our identity. We are lucky enough to have our own country where we can practice our religion and lead our lives freely. I was born and raised in Pakistan. Though Pakistan might not be the safest place to live in right now and may not have many opportunities, it still is OUR nation which gave us a place to call OURS. If I get the chance, I might get out of here for a while but Pakistan is still home and it close to our hearts. We Pakistanis have a lot to be proud of. We are a nation that has a rich historical background and a culture that is distinct from all others. Our food, traditional dresses, games, etc are unique in their own way. Our Northern regions have the beauty that no other country would have. We are blessed with a magnificent nation that has given us a lot to be thankful for. I truly love my country and there surely is no place like Pakistan because Pakistan is home Maria Rahman 1017150 BSSS-2B
Karachi- by its name is a vibrant city with multicultural facets all around. The best thing i feel about this city is that its tolerant in a lot of ways. Humanity is what plays a major role. People accept everyone in all ways and are ready to sacrifice no matter what religious or political background one belong to. starting from our houses. We accept maids whether they are Christian, Hindus, Bengali's or Muslims. We don't disrespect them or differentiate. in my house there is a Hindu and a Christian maid, and we treat them in the best possible way. Everyone is struggling to earn a living, and if its done in the most honest ways then there's nothing really wrong. I love the diversity of this city, but one thing which bothers me is the fact that people are not content with what they have. They interfere in each others businesses and just can't concentrate on their own stuff. Therefore i believe that people should take personal responsibility and stop the blame game, so that we can actually make this pretty place prettier.
Belonging to a city known as "the city of lights" since i have been born have kept me in turmoil how to categorize this city.It has been a challenging task to ink down my experience being in Karachi.For me this city is my cradle, nurtured and nourished throughout.This city holds vital varieties in almost every aspect of life from social to cultural, political to educational, economic to religious.And the forefathers have always been an inspiration for the dwellers to buckle up and workout the determination.It may not be the greatest of all or pursuit of perfection but it surely drags the country which is just like a bryony but my city fulfills the responsibility.Every dawn is a divine influence to face the prevailing decadence and still being able to motion is set example of in defensibility. Jewelled with major economy,trade, harbors,business markets accompanying social welfare and of course argument winning point "the sea" makes Karachi bride of Pakistan.As the bride dresses up in red,alas similarly this city which is full of excitement and adventures, yet spills the colour red in the hands of innocent because of some who dont know the worth and its an irony how the threats,injustice,present circumstances,chaos has made me think of ourselves as chickens not bothering to step up.Denial cannot be approved that change rests in individual efforts and certainly today is going to change if sorted out on the basis of individual give ins. Karachi will prosper and Pakistan will thrive soon its just the need of a correct propel.
Being a karachiite since the day i was born, the city makes me feel home. surprisingly, there's nothing that can alter my affection towards my city. bombings, rallies, shoot-outs, the much-ado-about curfews and everything else can never make me feel ignorant towards the state of my city. There still exist things that make our city stand out among many of its competitors in teh world. karachi is home to a zillion cultures, traditions, languages and families. i believe this diversity makes karachi what it is today. it adds a certain sparkle to its image. I believe that the world out there has a very different image in mind and tht solely is because of the eurocentric myths and rumors that fly high in the air of the western coutnries. I know karachi is no more as safe and sound as it once used to be but looking at a brighter side, karachi has transformed itself into a little country itself. from malls to dhabbas to chaat walas to cafes to every possible thing on teh planet, karachi homes a thousand dreams and realities. fatima azeem 1017138
Karachi society has progressed through the past decade or so. Karachi may not be the most entertaining city in the world but you adapt to the life in Karachi and once you do the life is not as bad as initially. When you spend time in Karachi you learn to love it and it forms a special bond. I personally prefer living in Karachi rather than going abroad given that it is more secure and there are less threats around. Hopefully Karachi will keep progressing and one day it will be one of the greatest city in the world. - Belal Rizvi
ReplyDeleteKamila Shamsie said the song that defines Karachi for her is 'Where the streets have no name' by U2. Karachi is a living , breathing organism. It has it's own thought process, its own culture, history, lifespan. It has elements of all the cultures of Pakistan. In my opinion it would be incorrect to name one particular dominant Karachi culture. That is why i feel so close to the city- huge , mysterious, fast paced and multi-faceted, Karachi belongs to no one.
ReplyDeleteFor me Karachi is home, it is where I come from and well sometimes everyone has this urge to run away from home, to be somewhere, anywhere else. But in the end it is to go home is what one craves. My home in Karachi is not just my room or my house or my colony, it goes beyond that, to different parts of Karachi, tiny pockets- polluted as they may be- where I have experienced love, life, beautiful memories and crazy times. Karachi is the home I would turn to whatever the case may be, the it is the place would always want to turn back to.
ReplyDelete- Nida Noman
About Karachi by Nisa Mustafa
ReplyDeleteKarachi is the largest city in our country and also one of the largestand busiest in the world. It houses people from diffrent religious,ethnic and cultural backgrounds be it parsis, hindus, christians ormuhajirs, bengalis, pathans etc. Karachi is Pakistan's economic huband center for its trade, banking, finances. It houses most of therevenue generating industries which contribute towards Pakistan'searnings. The major reason which attracts people from all over thecountry is the availability of employment opportunities. Small scalejobs as well as jobs in big multi national firms are available herewhich shows the diversity of people living here. I believe that it isrightly called the city of bright lights and the bride of citiesbecause of its vibrant culture and liveliness. One would find theother cities in the country like lahore and islamabad to be peacefulcalm and relaxing but for a pure karachite its very difficult tosettle there. Theses places are good for vacationing but when it comesto settling in a place, i believe karachi is most fun and suitable.Sadly, in recent years a number of gangs and mafias have evolved inthe city who are continuing to spoil the peace here. They are creatingdiffrences amongst the people on religious, sectarian and culturalbackgrounds as a result of which intolerance is increasing rapidlywhich leads to criminal acts. As a larger percentage of people do nothave sufficient educational backgrounds, they easily come under theirinfluence. In order to restore the city's peace and harmony we shoulddecrease the diffrences that people have created amongst themselvesand become more tolerant and respectful for each other's believes andalso make quality education acessible for all, only then this citywill prosper. =)
Nisaa Mustafa
BS-SS 2B
Being born and brought up in Karachi I've always considered it home.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I like about Karachi is its diversity in food; from Pakistani cuisine on the 'thelas' to the cuisines from other countries; italian cuisine, chinese cuisine, you name it and it is available in Karachi. However, the best part is how the karachiites add their own taste to the other cuisines. Addition of one spice can change the entire dish. This is what I love about Karachi the most that here the people are always ready to make innovations whether it be a chef in a kitchen, or a thela owner on the road or a businessman in his airconditioned office.
Also the set up of big bazars in Karachi like sunday bazar or wedesday bazar where almost everything is available from clothes, bags, accessories, shoes, to electronics, crockery, grocessory, books, and food, gives Karachi a distinct culture. These bazars are places where people from all walks of life are present. These bazars are the best examples of the diversity in this city.
Even though there is a small part of Karachi intolerant to diversity but there are also us who are tolerant to it and consider it our strenght.
The diversity of people, their experiences and the diversity in their ideas to innovate is what makes Karachi.
Munira Hirwani
Karachi is my city and I like the life here which which is a mixture of rabbits and tortoises running together. I do agree that Karachi is surrounded by many social problems which we blame the government for but it is time for us to realize that not all can be done or corrected by them. We should realize our responsibility as the people of this city to build it on individual level as small drops combine to make an ocean. First individual step should be respect and tolerance for all other religions and ethnic groups. Life here can be made better if all the people try to make an effort to lead Karachi to harmonious lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteZunehra Manzoor Khan
BS(SS&E)II-B
Karachi is a vibrant place to live in. Life here is too fast paced though, for my liking. I consider it to be a city of opportunities and hopes. Every morning I see so many laborers from various parts of the country waiting to get hired or to find some employment for the day. With every sun down people do return to their homes with shattered dreams but each new day renews their hopes and the faith they have in this city. This is one of the things I really love about Karachi. Moreover being a multi cultural city, it offers a wide variety of options in every aspect of life; be it food or entertainment in general. The diversity here is what makes this city so lively and colorful.
ReplyDeleteKainat Khurshid.
Karachi is the city I was born in and have been living in for nearly two decades. It is the heart and artery of the city. People from all sorts of ethnicities, sects and backgrounds come, settle and live here. It is a welcoming city and has withstood significant increases in population year after year. It has bore the brunt of the country’s economic and social responsibilities; carrying a huge weight on its shoulders. People find job opportunities here more than other parts of the country. The port in Karachi makes economic activity much easier. Vital trade is carried out in this city without which Pakistan would be in further disarray. Some of the most educated people in this country live in and have studied in Karachi which has some magnificent schools. The city is a source of pride not only for Karachi-ites but for the whole nation. It is a fast-paced city and that should not be misinterpreted as a case of people not stopping for you or caring for you. Rather, it should be seen as an example of the fact that people here are not lazy and are hard-working. Karachi may not have grand mosques like Shah Faisal in Islamabad and Badshahi in Lahore but it doesn’t complain and is complex in its simplicity. It did not waste its time with the Lawyers Movement in 2007 as most of the lawyers protests were in other parts of the country. It is definitely a terrific asset for the country.
ReplyDeleteRumman Islam
There are bits of Karachi's society that have a very rigid way of thinking. They do not accept change and are intolerant. They like to interfere and comment and enjoy passing around inappropriate remarks. Our society in many ways lacks freedom of thought, speech, freedom of dressing or just freedom in general. People who dress differently, or have wild dreams which they intend to pursue or just live their lives in a manner which is not defined by the rules of the society, are looked down upon and talked about and are unappreciated. Our society lacks trust and respect and it tends to go to extremes. It may be warm and welcoming at times, even encouraging, but it is not without its flaws. Despite all this, I love my city. It has given me a life which is great in many ways and I am thankful for that. And I wish to pay it back someday, in any way I can.
ReplyDeleteZonia Yousuf Baltistani
'About Karachi' by Sarmad A.Lashari
ReplyDeleteKarachi is divrse city like all the big cities of the world, this city has its own problems.I want to write abut the problems of this city with respect to 'Social Scieces' and how the change can be brought on major scale by keeing the 'Social Policy' context in mind.
The political scenerio cannot be over-looked in this regard, it has affected this city alot.Karachi is the back bone of Pakistan in terms of economy and resources, and this city has suffered alot in the history, Pakistan depends on karachi alot.
The political bargain was on the roads of karachi in the form of murders, the language and ethinic violence plays its part too,which is the threat to the existece of the state, we need a policy which promtes unity among us, keeping the differences aside.
The other major problems are the crime and use of illegal weapons, it is very important to de-weaponize karachi, so that the we can get rid of terrorism.
The traffic is issue, thought the govt has done its job in making better roads, but the population is growing so are the problems of this city.
Child labor has been a problem,you can see the children on the road at the age of 5-6 begging or working,which is the global issue, NGO's should work on this issue in Pakistan.
Social policy Week 1 Reflection:
ReplyDeleteSocial policy- What comes to my mind when I think of this word are the policies or regulations to maintain human existence and deal with human behavior in society. Social Policy is an important part of Social Sciences and it helps us know the society and its people in a better way.
In our first week of the Social Policy course, we talked about the Pakistani society and Karachi as a city where we were born and our sentiments towards it. I was quite happy with the fact that people truly love and respect Pakistan for all that it’s given us. It is OUR nation and we can live here freely without a threat to our lives. Putting aside the current situation of our city, we are still proud Pakistanis and we should be proud of our identity. We are lucky enough to have our own country where we can practice our religion and lead our lives freely.
I was born and raised in Pakistan. Though Pakistan might not be the safest place to live in right now and may not have many opportunities, it still is OUR nation which gave us a place to call OURS. If I get the chance, I might get out of here for a while but Pakistan is still home and it close to our hearts. We Pakistanis have a lot to be proud of. We are a nation that has a rich historical background and a culture that is distinct from all others. Our food, traditional dresses, games, etc are unique in their own way. Our Northern regions have the beauty that no other country would have.
We are blessed with a magnificent nation that has given us a lot to be thankful for. I truly love my country and there surely is no place like Pakistan because Pakistan is home
Maria Rahman
1017150
BSSS-2B
Karachi- by its name is a vibrant city with multicultural facets all around. The best thing i feel about this city is that its tolerant in a lot of ways. Humanity is what plays a major role. People accept everyone in all ways and are ready to sacrifice no matter what religious or political background one belong to. starting from our houses. We accept maids whether they are Christian, Hindus, Bengali's or Muslims. We don't disrespect them or differentiate. in my house there is a Hindu and a Christian maid, and we treat them in the best possible way.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is struggling to earn a living, and if its done in the most honest ways then there's nothing really wrong.
I love the diversity of this city, but one thing which bothers me is the fact that people are not content with what they have. They interfere in each others businesses and just can't concentrate on their own stuff.
Therefore i believe that people should take personal responsibility and stop the blame game, so that we can actually make this pretty place prettier.
Zainab Khan
BS-SS II (B)
1017161
Belonging to a city known as "the city of lights" since i have been born have kept me in turmoil how to categorize this city.It has been a challenging task to ink down my experience being in Karachi.For me this city is my cradle, nurtured and nourished throughout.This city holds vital varieties in almost every aspect of life from social to cultural, political to educational, economic to religious.And the forefathers have always been an inspiration for the dwellers to buckle up and workout the determination.It may not be the greatest of all or pursuit of perfection but it surely drags the country which is just like a bryony but my city fulfills the responsibility.Every dawn is a divine influence to face the prevailing decadence and still being able to motion is set example of in defensibility. Jewelled with major economy,trade, harbors,business markets accompanying social welfare and of course argument winning point "the sea" makes Karachi bride of Pakistan.As the bride dresses up in red,alas similarly this city which is full of excitement and adventures, yet spills the colour red in the hands of innocent because of some who dont know the worth and its an irony how the threats,injustice,present circumstances,chaos has made me think of ourselves as chickens not bothering to step up.Denial cannot be approved that change rests in individual efforts and certainly today is going to change if sorted out on the basis of individual give ins.
ReplyDeleteKarachi will prosper and Pakistan will thrive soon its just the need of a correct propel.
Being a karachiite since the day i was born, the city makes me feel home. surprisingly, there's nothing that can alter my affection towards my city. bombings, rallies, shoot-outs, the much-ado-about curfews and everything else can never make me feel ignorant towards the state of my city. There still exist things that make our city stand out among many of its competitors in teh world. karachi is home to a zillion cultures, traditions, languages and families. i believe this diversity makes karachi what it is today. it adds a certain sparkle to its image. I believe that the world out there has a very different image in mind and tht solely is because of the eurocentric myths and rumors that fly high in the air of the western coutnries. I know karachi is no more as safe and sound as it once used to be but looking at a brighter side, karachi has transformed itself into a little country itself. from malls to dhabbas to chaat walas to cafes to every possible thing on teh planet, karachi homes a thousand dreams and realities.
ReplyDeletefatima azeem
1017138