Artists, artisans and labourers are taking part in the project

talented young artists, but public art is rare.

Munawar Ali Syed, who is leading the team of artists, said it was a pleasure to take their work beyond the elite circles of galleries and graduate shows.

“It’s important for society to remain involved with art and music, but unfortunately such things are waning from our culture,” Munawar said.

“In my 17-year art practice in the galleries, I have enjoyed working here the most as I am directly communicating with my viewers.”

Under Munawar’s watchful eye, a team of artists use stencils to create images of boys flying kites, donkey cart races and other images of rural life.

Elsewhere, flamboyant, brightly coloured paintings of peacocks and elephants have not only radically changed the feel of Karachi but have also drawn foreigners, who usually move with extreme caution around what is a volatile city.

Aside from daily murders, Karachi was hit by two major terror attacks in just over a year.

A Taleban terrorist attack on the airport left 38 people dead last year June, and in May this year gunmen slaughtered 45 people on a bus. It was the first attack in Pakistan to be claimed by the extremist Daesh group. All the suspects involved in the attack have already been arrested. The project’s coordinator Adeela Suleman said she was delighted the work had brought a “less hostile” look.

Schoolchildren have also been made part of the project, in the hope of shifting a sense of ownership of the city and its appearance on to the younger generations.

“We included younger people so they can carry this work on further,” said Norayya, as she worked with her teenage daughter on a wall.

“When they grow up they will feel that they are comfortable in sort of working for the city — this is like planting a seed to the next generations.”

The artists hope the project will subtly change people’s behaviour after years of violence, softening them a little.

“I believe that this will yield good results in the long term,” Munawar said.

“When you see positive things around you so your behaviour becomes positive and a big change comes along in one’s life.” —