A group of artists and volunteers in Karachi have taken upon themselves to clean the dirt of the city — the dirt of hate and violence — by removing graffiti from the walls that reeks of animosity and an acrimonious feeling. (“Reimaging Karachi city,” July 25)

Out of the closet of their galleries, an army of no less than 200 artists and artisans have embarked on a mission to repaint the city removing stains of hatred and restoring a “feel-good” factor to the city of 20 million people.

For a change, the initiative is a welcome relief from the seemingly unabated sectarian hatred and political hostility.

Yet the efforts need to be backed by a sustained but pragmatic approach to bring about any change for the better. The feel-good factor will ultimately work if it comes from the within and not just a cosmetic approach to this otherwise serious issue.

The political will is clearly lacking in this regard, but can the above initiative spur the city’s concerned citizens, including celebrities, journalists, academicians, lawyers, students and others to rise to the occasion and take a pledge to take the symbolic movement of erasing stains from the walls to remove stains from the psyche of the people?

I appreciate the movement, which should serve as a good reminder to the government for all the filth that has been accumulated in the city and for which the government cannot be exonerated. — Sabahuddin, Islamabad