KARACHI CLIMATE MARCH

Pakistan lies in the temperate zone which means that the climate is neither burning hot nor is it freezing cold. It is moderate. The climate has rapidly been changing over the past few years and at present is the greatest existential crisis facing humanity today. To demur and to protest against human activities resulting in atmospheric injustice in Pakistan, the nation came out on the streets and raised their voices against climate brutality. More than 26 cities participated in this cause, including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Thatta, Mardan, Chitral etc on 20th September 2019.


I got the privilege to be a part of this social cause in Karachi that took place at the British colonial-era building Frere Hall. This citizen-led event organised by Climate Action Now which is an awareness campaign addressing the issues of climate change. The protestors gathered in a timely fashion numbering to approximately 500 people present to march against climate injustice and a large number of attendees were students. As the hours ticked, the crowd thickened, their colourful placards reflecting their concern and love for the environment.

The event began with brief orations about the cause given by artist and teacher Yasir Husain who has worked relentlessly to raise awareness about the environment and with Zehra Zaidi of Karachi Citizen Lab along with Sheema Kermani, a social activist and founder of Tehrik-e-Niswan Organisation who motivated everyone to participate in the march as “it (climate change) is going to affect us all.” Fatima Majeed, the vice chairperson of Pakistan FisherFolk Forum also gave a speech regarding the climate change and saving the planet.

To raise the crowd’s fervor there was a musical performance from folk singer Nirmala Vakhani who sang a composition by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Bol k lab azaad hain tere” and the Urdu version of Sheikh Ayaz’s poem Mera koi des nahin hay, mera des Jahan. Celebrities also put their best foot forward and joined the march including George Fulton from George Ka Pakistan, Shaniera Akram, actors Ali Rehman, Sanam Saeed, singers Zoe and Rachel Viccaji and Pakistani politician, lawyer and human rights activist Jibran Nasir.

Having never attended a march before, I always thought it must be unsafe to walk on the streets but I was wrong. In uniformity and security, the crowd marched on chanting, “Yeh log kya mangay? Saaf mahol” and “Tez ho tez ho, jid o jehad tez ho. Capitalism k khilaaf jid o jehad tez ho.” Looking around at the placards to raise awareness, some caught the eye in an instant, “There is no planet B” or “Don’t be a fossil fool” condemning human activities resulting in climate change.

The purpose of the march was to bring to the government’s attention the crisis that is climate change and their responsibility towards environmental emergencies. The laws around deforestation, substandard consumption habits and killing of our green fields through seizing the lands need to be implemented, and the authorities need to go beyond passing bills in the Parliament and turn a blind eye to environmental injustice. – Alina Qamar

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