{"id":3500,"date":"2017-11-16T18:12:05","date_gmt":"2017-11-16T18:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/habib.edu.pk\/HU-news\/?p=3500"},"modified":"2025-07-21T16:30:35","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T11:30:35","slug":"from-the-classroom-to-the-karachi-conference-the-future-policy-makers-of-the-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/habib.edu.pk\/HU-news\/from-the-classroom-to-the-karachi-conference-the-future-policy-makers-of-the-city\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Classroom to the Karachi Conference \u2013 The Future Policy Makers of the City"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Karachi Conference has held five successful events- bringing together scholars, academics, and activists to understand one of the fastest growing cities in the world.<\/h4>\n

The Conference was created to highlight significant historical movements and developments that make Karachi what it is today. The conference attracts both local and international persons in an academic setting.<\/span><\/h4>\n

The Fifth International Karachi Conference brought together not only exceptional panellists, but five of Habib University\u2019s brightest minds. Students participating in the conference came from different educational backgrounds, highlighting different regional issues they have experienced. Uzair Ibrahim, Neha Panjwani, Nazish Rizwan, Shafaat Khowaja, and Farwa Hussain shared their experiences of being student panellists in one of Karachi\u2019s most renowned academic events including the topics they discussed.<\/span><\/h4>\n

The Saint and the Skyscraper: The Case of the Abdullah Shah Ghazi Shrine and the Bahria Icon Tower<\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n

By Uzair Ibrahim<\/span><\/h3>\n

Last year saw arguably two major changes in Clifton, Karachi: one, the construction of the Bahria bridge, and two, the renovation of the Shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi. The reason behind these two is the construction of the Bahria Icon Tower. This has fundamentally altered the phenomenology of the place for the residents of that area and visitors alike, especially in relation to the Shrine. In our paper, through field interviews with the local stakeholders, we have found that the renovation of the Shrine is welcomed by the shrine visitors. However, from an archaeological and historical point of view, the renovation of the Shrine, along with the building of the Bahria Bridge, has resulted in the reorganization of urban space, disruption of history and historical sites, environmental and human degradation, and an artificial arrangement into a living part of the city.\u00a0 Furthermore, it would not be far-fetched to claim that the renovation of the Shrine is an appropriation of the Shrine into the Bahria brand aesthetically. We also intend to explore the tension between the stakeholder point of view and the archaeo-historical point of view.<\/span><\/h4>\n

It was my first ever academic conference, and the feedback I received was really encouraging. Apart from the panel itself, the audience was also engaging with our research. I was told that my presentation resonated with issues discussed before in the conference. We were asked about the challenges and surprises that we encountered during the course of our research. Our panel was chaired by Dr. Aliya Iqbal-Naqvi, and Dr. Framji Minwalla was the discussant. I also learnt a lot from the other presentations in the conference.<\/span><\/h4>\n
This blog was written by Uzair Ibrahim,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span>Class of 2018,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0majoring in <\/em><\/strong>Social Development & Policy (SDP).<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/h6>\n
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Air Quality Management Policy in Karachi<\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n

By Nazish Rizwan<\/span><\/h3>\n

Karachi\u2019s air pollution problem is inextricably linked to its poor governance and rapid urbanization. The problem is inherently complex, and transcends any one authority that may potentially cure it. A coordinated and well-planned effort with inter-governmental and inter-sectoral collaboration, combined with a strong political will is required if the current state of affairs is to be improved. The fastest growing city in the world is thus faced with unprecedented challenges pertaining to its air quality. Understanding the challenge requires looking closely at the methods of air pollution data collection; the primary and secondary sources of air pollution specific to Karachi, which include a brief history of its transit system; its colossal waste management problem; the city\u2019s industrial base, and its geography and climate.<\/span><\/h4>\n
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I proposed that Air Quality Management (AQM) should become a national priority, if not an urban emergency. <\/em><\/h1>\n
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As can be seen, non-engagement with the issue, and letting the situation aggravate is harming every individual and the country at large, as shown by a variety of indicators, such as rise in hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses, smog alerts, haze and dust in the air etc. The policy paper I presented examined what has been done so far by relevant institutions to mitigate air pollution; it\u2019s economic, health, and environmental consequences, and the need for evidence and data collection mechanisms to be put in place, which may potentially motivate policy making for cleaner air in the city.<\/span><\/h4>\n

After the presentation, we were asked by the panel chairs Dr. Minwalla and Dr. Naqvi to talk about the challenges or surprises we faced whilst conducting our research, to which I responded that the lack of valid and reliable data collection on Air Quality Indexes was surprising and challenging at the same time, because when neither citizens or policy makers are aware of the scope of the issue, it is very hard to give targeted policy solutions. Few members of the audience also directed their questions to me and I learned to answer them to the best of my knowledge and acknowledge the gaps in my own research. Architect and planner, Arif Hasan, met us outside the auditorium and gave each of us words of encouragement. We concluded the day with an amazing dinner at the Karachi Gymkhana and cheered to our first conference as presenters!<\/span><\/h4>\n

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This blog was written by Nazish Rizwan,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span>Class of 2018,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>majoring in SDP.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
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Naya Nazimabad Housing Scheme: A Development Project for Whom?<\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n

By Shafaat Khowaja<\/span><\/h3>\n

In a course named \u2018Mega-Projects and the State\u2019<\/em>, we were assigned to write a research paper as our final project. For this purpose, I wrote a paper which was based on an ethnographic case study titled \u2018Politics and Poetics of Mega Projects: Naya Nazimabad, a Development Project in Question?\u2019<\/span><\/h4>\n

However, the research experience was shared with a limited number of people which included my professor and classmates. When this paper got selected to be presented at the Fifth International Karachi Conference, under the session titled \u2018The Best of Karachi Student Research\u2019, it gave me an exciting opportunity to share my research on a public forum and step out of my classroom.<\/span><\/h4>\n

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It was an honor to present my research paper at an academic conference, and in front of a large audience including senior researchers and scholars\u2026what every young researcher looks forward to. It was an overwhelming experience that gave me an opportunity to see the implications of my work beyond the classroom discussions. It gave me a chance to interact with development practitioners and social activists from all over Karachi, further unleashing networking opportunities for a young researcher like myself.<\/span><\/h4>\n

It was definitely one of the very rare special moments when I saw my university professors being there to support us and feeling proud of their students. Moreover, remarks such as \u201cincredible work\u201d, \u201cemerging researchers\u201d, and \u201cthese students gave the real picture of Karachi\u201d, were a feather in my cap! It boosted my confidence for future presentations and to engage in many more projects encountering the city\u2019s development and social transformation.<\/span><\/h4>\n
This blog was written by <\/em><\/strong>Shafaat Khowaja,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span>Class of 2018,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>majoring in SDP.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
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Making the Invisible Visible: Illustrating the Shortfalls in Karachi\u2019s Water Distribution System<\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n

By Farwa Hussain<\/h3>\n

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@HabibUniversity<\/a> stdnts (L-R) @_hfarwa<\/a>, @UzairIbrahim_<\/a>, Shafaat Khowaja, and Nazish Rizwan (1st from right) present @ the #KarachiConference<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vks1BqZwtD<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Farwa Hussain (@_hfarwa) October 29, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n