Karachi is the industrial hub of Pakistan and Karachi Electric Supply Company is the city’s backbone. KESC and the development of Karachi is in tandem with each other which is why KESC has instilled the framework/vision of community development in its ideology of conducting business.
Recently KESC has launched an extensive community development campaign at Ibrahim Hyderi, which is adjacent to Korangi Thermal Power station (KTPS). Ibrahim Hyderi is one of the largest slums in South Asia and has a population of more then 150,000 people. The slum consists of more then 50 mohallas representing different ethnic tribes and communities with various socio-economic problems. The community lacks basic infrastructure and facilities pertaining to education, healthcare and clean drinking water.
KESC in an effort to alleviate some of the social issues in Ibrahim Hyderi has installed 2 water purification plants for the residents. The plants will be serving the local public and would provide them with clean drinking water. In order to create awareness regarding clean water and its importance, KESC has conceived and designed a vigorous “Clean Water Awareness Drive” to educate children, specifically women about following a healthy lifestyle. The 10 days campaign and its mobilization plan have been finalized in collaboration with Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and Sehat First Foundation. Both these NGOs are actively participating in the awareness drive. KESC in collaboration with the aforementioned NGOs is organizing daily school visits during the entire campaign in order to create awareness about personal hygiene and clean water in younger population.
Interactive community sessions are being conducted where women belonging to various mohallas actively participate and discuss the problems pertinent to obtaining clean water and representatives from KESC, PFF and Sehat First Foundation distribute leaflets to proliferate the idea of cleanliness and healthy lifestyle. Lady Health Workers are also being involved in the door-to-door campaign not only covering the major part of Ibrahim Hyderi but also reaching out to far flung areas. Basically the idea is to generate as much awareness regarding cleanliness and reach maximum mohallas during the drive as possible. The Annual Fishermen Day will be celebrated on Nov 21 and is a platform where KESC’s representatives will hold speeches and carry out a massive awareness campaigns for the general public.
Simultaneously KESC has also initiated “The Clean-up Movement” in collaboration with Union Council of the area. Water tanks/reservoirs are being cleaned and sanitized for appropriate consumption. Garbage heaps are being discarded to provide better and healthier environment to the local residents.
Green Zones are being created in the area surrounding KTPS and Ibrahim Hyderi to curtail the effect of carbon emissions and provide the residents of Ibrahim Hyderi with a soothing and refreshing environment.
It can be fairly concluded that “The Cleanliness Campaign” is extremely dynamic and can be replicated in other deprived communities as one of our many socially viable initiatives.
