Progression First, Philanthropy Later Or Vice Versa?

Yesterday, I read this news that a meeting of MQM delegation with President is underway regarding the funds demanded by MQM from Federal Government which will be spent on development work going on in Karachi. The meeting also discussed about internally displaced people (IDPs).

The President showed a green-light and approved 12 projects that include: building of parks, beautification of certain areas and tree-planting in the City Karachi. These projects after the valuing costs Rupees 22 billion.

So, as the Cowasjee says, let’s set the priorities first. And before that, let’s take an example to help setting up the priorities: If your garden needs attention whilst in your house you have a sick child, what is your first priority? — A question asked from Cowasjee.

I don’t know if MQM will agree to it or not but to me it makes grand sense. The comparing of a sick child with the renovation and beautification of garden is a considerable example.

Should the ‘Green Karachi’ project not be slowed down, with money diverted to relief camps for those displaced persons who are seeking refuge? Yes, we must have the parks, but for the moment, until some sort of normalcy is returned to the country, they can be fenced in and measures taken to ensure that there are no encroachments. The large shady tree-planting, not an excessively expensive exercise, should go ahead forthwith. But it is the homeless and dispossessed who have sought hospitality who must take priority when it comes to spending the people’s money.[1]

President Zardari was on official trip of begging globally. He was begging in the name of IDPs in particular and Pakistan in general. Zardari on yesterday’s trip to Karachi pleaded the business community in Karachi to step to the fore and help IDPs wholeheartedly. This all he expressed, but again, none of us know how much is spent by ministers and president themselves. For instance one of the minister from PPP (Information Minister - Qamar Zaman Kaira) on his visit to US spent thousands on luxury while 3 million of his countrymen have become homeless.

My personal opinion is, we should be helping dispossessed people more than elevating the developmental work. We can develop our country – our city sometime in near future as well, but presently, the unfortunate 3 million people should be the governments priority.


NOTE:
Excerpt is taken from Cowasjee’s article “I own Karachi … and can sell it! – 3″ which was published in DAWN on 1st June 2009.[1]


Reference to excerpt: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/colu mnists/16-ardeshir-cowasjee-i-own-karachi-and-can-sell-it-3-159-hs-06