In every city’s time of need, there arises a saviour, and Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city which faces multiple challenges every day, has been fortunate to witness the emergence of remarkable women who have played the role of its rescuers, leaving an indelible mark on its history. Among them, one stands out today — the courageous and resilient Marvi Mazhar.
“It’s disheartening to find myself alone in this battle sometimes,” an exasperated Mazhar told me as we strolled through the labyrinthine streets of Saddar on a serene Sunday morning. The bustling city serving as the perfect backdrop to our conversation.
As the timeless charm of Karachi’s pre-Partition buildings and its diverse ecosystem face threats in the form of relentless encroachments, vandalism, and illegal demolitions, the fight to preserve the megacity’s cultural beauty is a daily struggle for Mazhar. Following in the footsteps of other courageous women such as the great architect Yasmeen Lari and fearless social worker and urban planner Perween Rehman — though their fights looked slightly different from hers — she is a force to be reckoned with.