The City of Lights (continued)

The sights and sounds of my Karachi are fascinating, enchanting. It drowns the sound of the guns and bombs and the sight of the blood.

Have you ever experienced the captivating 20-minute bird-eye view of Karachi at night during an airplane takeoff or landing?

The enchanting city view from Hill Park top is a sight to behold.

Have you seen the thousands of pigeons taking off and landing together at several of their habitats right inside the city?

Have you ever taken the grand Victoria ride through this fascinating city?

Haven’t those shers and one-liners behind colourful buses and noisy rickshaws provided relief when you are stuck in a traffic jam in the summer heat?

Have you ever seen even the hard- hearted soften up when a mere five year old offers gajras and white, pink and pale yellow tulip roses behind closed air-conditioned car windows?

Have you ever noticed how small children’s eyes light up at the bunder ka tamasha? 

Have you witnessed the lively abandon at musical concerts – the young and the not-so-young swaying to the rhythm of the moment?

What of the passion vibrating the National Stadium when Pakistan takes on India in a One Day International? Or the sight of the future Inzamam-ul-Haqs and Shoaib Akhtars playing night matches with chairs, cartons, rocks or tin boxes lined up for wickets!

It’s inspiring to see people rushing to masjids for Friday prayers despite terror attacks on worship places; and the likes of Imran Khan, Abdus Sattar Edhi and Ansar Burney serving the poor and violated. This is my Karachi.

Karachi’s hospitality is moving. This large hearted city welcomes and provides shelter and jobs to the poor from every province of Pakistan – Punjab, Baluchistan, Sindh and the NWFP. Karachi is home to hundreds of desperate from Bangladesh and thousands of refugees from Afghanistan.

The pace, the full-of life rush in Boat Basin, Burns Road, Jubilee, Zamzama, Chundrigar Road, Lalu Khet, Saddar, Hydary; the unique experience and flavour of Aitwar and Mangal Bazaars. No city can match the all-night excitement and craziness on the main streets and markets of Karachi before Eid.

A vibrant, dynamic city like Karachi can never die or be destroyed… Have you ever stood at the Seaview Beach after midnight and experienced the wonder of the sound of water and waves at high tide? Have you seen the sea surfing at night from a Sandspit hut? Have you felt the cool sea breeze on your cheeks and hair?  Have you ever seen the sun rise on the beautiful beaches of Karachi? Colours of peace, hope and life lights up the horizon. The glow and magic of a city being torn apart by many ills and misfortunes casts its spell …

Have you ever experienced a bumpy camel ride on white sand? And seen how soon those huge footprints disappear as they are engulfed by the moving water and wet sand? This is Karachi.  

Have you made a sand castle and watch it as the waves wash it away and you begin making one again with the same enthusiasm? This is Karachi.    

I wake up every morning with the music of birds chirping a prayer outside my window … today is a new day in the city of the Quaid – the  ‘City of Lights’ – not the peaceful one my father talks about, but the one which bounces back to life after every hurt and scar.

My Karachi is alive. My Karachi moves on with vigour – leaving behind the dust and storms to settle down in time.

The sun rises every morning – come what may.