Karachi’s superwoman: Architect Marvi Mazhar is shaping the city’s future while protecting its past

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.

An architect, heritage advocate and urban social thinker, Mazhar has dedicated her life and career to saving Karachi’s cultural and urban soul. She is not hopeless, she said, and that’s what defines her — her resilience, resistance and will to keep moving forward.

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.

“In court cases or legal judgment we are few who are expected to be the face of it all, fighting for heritage justice in countless places. It is important that more join this movement and focus on historical past as part of urban planning and it is now critical for academic institutes to focus on architecture education keeping history as an important annexure as way forward,” she told me.

Not backing down in her pursuit to prevent Karachi from becoming another contemporary grey jungle, Mazhar is persistent in her struggle.

From the remarkable restoration of the Karachi Cantt Railway Station to the phenomenal revival and restoration of Pakistan Chowk, her list of giving life back to historical buildings and spaces is commendably long.

Along with complicated and longstanding legal cases, she actively takes to social media to voice concerns about illegal demolitions and the government’s incompetence when it comes to it. Many times, the provincial government has taken action due to her perseverance.

Reflecting on the love-hate relationship with the government and its development-related authorities, she described it as both frustrating and a necessary first step for making better decisions and envisioning a brighter future when it comes to urban sustainability.

“Many of us tend to avoid collaboration with the government due to the perceived notion of how discouraging our government is, but now I believe that working together is necessary or else change won’t come,” she said.

Calling for partnership and communication, she added that government officials are also dealing with challenges and providing them with guidance can only benefit in protecting the city’s heritage and hence, its identity.

The power of female influence

Just as a strong and beautiful structure requires a solid foundation to distinguish itself from others, so too does an individual stand out with the support of certain influences. For Mazhar, the women in her life served as this foundational support, shaping her into the person she is today.

Though lost to her early in life, her mother instilled a deep love for Karachi within Mazhar and her sisters from a young age. Taking them on drives through the city, her mother showcased its vibrant hustle and bustle, especially during religious festivals, including visits to the famous Old Clifton area with its architectural marvels and heritage sites — very much the subjects that now form the essence of Mazhar’s work.

The other major influence on her life was the master architect herself — Yasmeen Lari — who is hailed as Pakistan’s first women architect and a giant in the building and urban planning industry.

Mazhar’s eyes glimmered when she mentioned Lari, whom she worked with for about seven years. She described it as one of the most valuable times of her life — a time she learned how to be resilient and patient while taking on both government and goons.

“It would simply be an understatement to say that she was merely my inspiration behind everything in life; for the courage and resilience required in my profession, I give her full credit.”

Sharing an interesting anecdote from her first meeting with Lari, she recalled being asked by Lari herself to speak to her after having read the architect’s book. Reflecting on the moment, she saw it as a learning experience that had come full circle as she has contributed to a book on Lari herself.

The Banyan Tree Conservation Project

Mazhar, who is unique in her battle and commitment to preserve Karachi’s monumental heritage sites, its rich cultural fabric and intricate ecological landscape, has proven to be unique with her projects and initiatives too.

From curating and promoting heritage walks, to holding insightful lectures on heritage and history and even producing a film documenting the region’s rich past, she has made a real difference with her efforts to improve the state of the city we live in and the spaces we occupy.

When you visit the old areas of Karachi — especially Old Clifton — and look at the historic buildings or even the banyan trees, it’s likely Mazhar contributed to efforts for its preservation.

For the past few years, Mazhar, along with a group of concerned Karachiites and advocates, has successfully managed to save many centuries-old banyan trees that are an important part of Karachi’s eco-system and landscape but are always at risk of being chopped down by authorities in the pursuit of ‘development’.

The persistence of Mazhar and the rest of the team paid off and in December 2019, they managed to make the authorities declare the banyan trees “protected heritage”.

Her success has inspired many others also to take her struggle forward. Last July, 17-year-old Aneeqa Bashir approached Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab and was able to have the historic banyan trees along Amir Khusro Road declared protected green heritage as well. When she spoke to the media, she credited Mazhar for inspiring her and providing guidance.

Staying true to her name

Just like her name ‘Marvi’, which has roots in the history of Sindh and means beauty redefined, everything seems to fall perfectly into place as she redefines the beauty and identity of our city.

Through celebrating her, we honour both history and the future, intertwining the past with the promise of what’s yet to come.

This March, Images is profiling trailblazing women who are, in their own ways big or small, stirring change in our society. Women who inspire us and women who make us proud. You can read all our stories on inspiring Pakistani women here.