My Journey to Pakistan: Reaching the end of the world as I knew it - Part 2

Reaching the industrial side of Karachi made me more aware of the huge differences and of the immense gap between the more and the least fortunate people of Karachi.

I am sure that everywhere in the world there are such discrepancies and that most neighborhoods from industrial areas are overcrowded and poor compared to other residencial areas, but I was not ready to see dusty roads, small frail-ready-to-crumble houses, people sleeping under the sky or in improvised tents with all their belongings ready to be packed in one bag and with their goats near their bed.
Public schools and kindergartens were in very bad conditions and I wonder what is the quality of the education that children can get there.
Everything looked barren under the hot summerish sun, but for the people living there that was the normal scenery. Kids were playing in the middle of the street, men were enjoying tea at improvised tables on the side of the road or riding back home to their families after a hard day at work carrying one day's food supplies.
Confronted with that new face of the city I have to admit that I was scared. I was scared because everybody was looking at us and I didn't know what to expect. I was scared not because there was any real threat but because of my own prejudices.
And then after a while, when the fear passed, I was ashamed. I was ashamed and sad that I stumbled and fell in the trap of ignorance and that I was no better that other people who freaked out at the word "Pakistan".
The people in the industrial residential area of Korangi were not criminals or offenders. They were humans, hard working people employed by the big plants of Karachi, payed poorly for their work, forgotten by a state with a semi-nonexistent health and education system.
I wonder if there is a way out for them. I hope that the new mobile school system that Mr Rehan Allahwala presented at TedX would reach the children (and the adults) from that area. I really hope that his Rehan School - Education for everyone for free will help these people see their children living better lives. I pray that the amazing One Rupee Project created by the generous and dedicated Mr Sarfaraz M Khan, Mr Abdul Hameed Kath and Mr Sarosh Waiz will get the support needed in order to change things for the needy people of Pakistan.

Lessons of the day: My fear comes from my ignorance and not from the things around me. New challenges are best faced with an open heart and an open mind.

My Journey to Pakistan: Reaching the end of the world as I knew it - Part 1

Towards the end of April my husband and I, we got invited to participate in a TedX event in Karachi. Because we both are big fans of TED, we gladly accepted the invitation and were very excited to go. On the day of the event we found out that later the same day there will be a family get together at our house, but we excused ourselves saying that we have a very important place to go to.

For the first time before leaving I saw my husband consulting a map to make sure that he knows the way. Now in all fairness, I've to ask why, oh why did the organizers chose that venue. The event was taking place in Korangi, the industrial area of Karachi. At first I was happy I was getting to see some new part of the city. Later on I was just wishing to get home and I felt miserable for my thoughts and self-generated insecurity.

On our way to Korangi we passed through an area full of auto parts shops and mechanics stores and I got to see a lot of colorful trucks parked to get their things done. This is one of the things I love and hate about Karachi: for anything you need, there is a go-to market concentrating about 90% of the activities from particular field. For example if you need paper, there is the paper market, if you need plastic things, there is a plastic market and so on. The good thing is that you always know where to go. The bad thing - sometimes you have to drive long distance to get a small thing. Thank God though for superstores which are now almost everywhere and save the day.

After leaving behind the crowded and noisy area with auto shops, we moved closer towards the industrial Karachi. As we got near, unexpectedly big plants started to pop up. My image of Pakistan was more of a highly agricultural country and I never expected to see such big plants there. From spices to medicine and biscuits everything was produced there. I think the plants have the capacity of employing over 1 million people. At first I said, wow, how huge! But then I remembered that Karachi only has over 15 million living souls.

I was overwhelmed by the traffic and by the fact that we were getting late to the event. We got caught in traffic and turned right a little sooner than we were supposed to. After driving for what seemed to be less than 100 meters, the scenery changed abruptly and I had the feeling that we somehow got carried away in another time and place. What I was seeing around me did not look like 21st century, but more likely like a place where time and progress stood still for few good (tens) years.

My Journey to Pakistan: Women empowering

I must say that during this visit to Karachi I was very surprised with one thing: more and more women get behind the wheel and drive! In a city like Karachi that is not a small thing! I strongly believe that not everybody can drive in this city where the rules are unwritten or made to be broken. When you get on the streets it's like the jungle: cars coming from the opposite direction on one way streets, red light is more for go than for stop, changing direction without signal, driving in night with no lights, making a u turn in the middle of the road without changing lanes and the list of Karachi driving wonders can go on and on.

Two years ago when I was visiting Karachi for the first time, my husband was the one taking me everywhere. One time however, when my hubby was not at home, one of my sisters in law came to take me shopping. We got into her Jeep and she drove very bravely in that men jungle. I thing during that visit I've not seen more than 5 women behind the wheel and she was one of them.

This time every 10th car we cross by was had a lady driver. Some frowning, some concentrating, some talking on the phone or keeping an eye on the children, women of Karachi proved to be patient and brave. 

They no longer depend solely on the husbands or drivers to go from here to there. They are now taking matters into their own hands and they are doing it admirably!