Reclaiming Karachi with Dialogues
Revolution is vital to the process of how society changes the way it shapes itself and the way it behaves. That’s a very painful & slow process that can only happen in moments of collective awakening. I Am Karachi intends to be part of such a revolution. On seventh of September 2016 IAK launched IAK Dialogues & IAK Awards in JS Auditorium of IBA. Eager students, dignitaries from Educational Institutes & compassionate citizens from all over Karachi witnessed some inspiring dialogues on how to bring peace and sense of ownership back to the city once labeled as the ‘City Of Lights’.
Times change and so does the revolutionary theory appropriate to our era. The way we protested effectively yesterday may not be effective in a week. The Dialogues initiative is an effort by the IAK movement to alleviate the misunderstandings the city harbours by promoting a better understanding of different perspectives and the complex socio-cultural fabric of Karachi by highlighting the importance of having dialogues. In a city that is affected by tragedies on the regular, tragedies begotten of misunderstanding and intolerance, this program is being used as a bridge between the different groups of people in this city, and trying to do away with miscommunication.
The second initiative launched was the IAK Awards, designed to help people who have battled adversity to rise out of those occasions and use social work to inspire others. The launch was a platform to announce a call for nominations, leading to the process for nominations and selection for potential candidates, with details available on the website.
The event was moderated by Media Stalwart Mr Ghazi Salahuddin who guided his esteemed panellists Sibtain Naqvi, Wusatullah Khan, Baela Raza Jamil & Rizwan Jaffar through the topic for the day. Each panelist was enlightening filled with passion & hope in their own unique way. Panelist & audience alike were challenging each others point of views which provoked some insightful dialogue towards the end when the Q&A opened for the jamn-packed house, reflecting that mindsets are changing for the better. Let’s join hands with IAK & take ownership of our beloved city
The process of social change isn’t strictly materialist; there’s something potentially magical about it.
It begins with you. It begins with me. #IAmKarachi