There was a time - not too long ago - when Karachi felt like home in every sense of the word...
HEART TO HEART
There was a time - not too long ago - when Karachi felt like home in every sense of the word. It wasn’t just the City of Lights; it was a place full of life, rhythm and soul. It had its flaws, certainly, but there was warmth in the chaos and charm in its imperfections. Today, sadly, that Karachi feels like a fading memory. Remember the long, breezy evenings at Clifton, Hawksbay, or Paradise Point? Families spreading out picnic mats, children dashing into the waves, and the sun sinking into a clean, open sea. Those beaches, once symbols of peace and beauty, are now choked with rubbish, concrete blocks and neglect. They still exist - but not as we remember them.
The same goes for Burns Road. Once a bustling hub of flavour, culture and late-night laughter, it’s now buried under traffic jams, litter and fading authenticity. What was once a food lover’s paradise now feels more like a test of patience - and hygiene.
Our parks haven’t been spared either. Places like Aladdin Park and Hill Park, which once echoed with children’s laughter and family weekend outings, are either vanishing or falling apart. Small neighbourhood parks have either been taken over or forgotten. The city’s old roadside fountains, like the one proudly displaying the 99 names of Allah at the KDA Roundabout, now sit dry, damaged, or abandoned - ghosts of what they once were.
Driving through the city today feels like navigating an obstacle course. Potholes, broken roads, chingchi rickshaws zigzagging through traffic, and overloaded public transport create constant chaos. Add to that the reckless luxury cars, and you get a recipe for daily stress, especially if you’re a pedestrian just trying to cross the road without being hit or mugged.
And then there are the city’s historic buildings - the old soul of Karachi. These once-proud colonial-era structures now stand cracked and crumbling, hidden behind billboards, grime, and silence. No one seems to notice, let alone care, that they are disappearing.
Street crime has also become a part of daily life. The fear of being mugged - day or night - hangs heavily in the air. Karachiites don’t just commute anymore; they survive every outing with caution and prayer.
It’s not just the roads or the buildings that are falling apart. It’s the spirit of the city that’s slowly withering. Karachi, once full of life and potential, now feels tired, ignored and broken. But underneath all this decay, there is still a heartbeat - a city that remembers what it once was, and what it can be again. All it needs is care, courage, and commitment. Maybe then, the Karachi we knew - and still long for - can rise again.
