Arif Hasan at PIIA: Karachi’s Changing Demographics and Urban Strife

It is my belief that even if we get over ethnic violence and terrorism, Karachi will continue to have strife and conflict. At best, it will be like Rio de Janeiro, separated into rich and poor areas. At worst, it will be like Mexico City.

These were Arif Hasan’s opening remarks at the beginning of his presentation at The Pakistan Institute of International Affairs on Karachi’s Changing Demographics and Urban Strife on 12 March 2014. Mr. Hasan is a renowned architect, urban planner, social activist, researcher, widely-published author and recipient of the Hilal-e-Imtiaz. He is the founder and Chairman of the Urban Resource Centre Karachi and Chairperson of the Orangi Pilot Project-Research & Training Institute, Karachi. Arif Hasan, in his comprehensive presentation, outlined the changing trends in Karachi’s demographic shift since Partition and presented an analysis of the societal repercussions of uneven densification of the metropolitan city.

Aurat Foundation: Dr Masuma Hasan’s Speech On International Women’s Day

Honourable Mr Mamnoon Hussain, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Ministers and Parliamentarians

Excellencies

Colleagues and Friends

Today, as we commemorate International Women’s Day, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations and deepest appreciation on behalf of Aurat Foundation and AAWAZ Voice and Accountability Programme to all those who have contributed to promote the human rights of women in their personal or institutional capacities, and to all those courageous women and men who continue to work for the empowerment and well-being of the women of Pakistan.

International Women’s Day has a long and heroic history, both at the international level and at many national levels. While its roots lie in the movement for women’s economic and political rights at the turn of the 20^th century, it has since then been observed, both as a celebration of the achievements made in the arena of women’s rights, and as a rallying point for the work remaining in other areas of social concern.