Politicking on Karachi?

The poor state of civic amenities in Karachi is no secret. Yet from both the federal and Sindh governments we go on getting only promises.  Recently Federal Ministers Asad Umar, Syed Ali Zaidi and Sindh Governor Imran Ismail at a press conference called for setting aside political differences for the welfare of the common people. The presser was held after a meeting which reviewed the pace of the Karachi Development Package announced by the PTI government. This came close on the heels of a statement by PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto in which he had blamed the centre for Karachi’s woes.

Asad Umar vowed to complete the ongoing development projects but he gave no deadline. He said the centre had released funds to expedite work on Green Line bus and K-1V water supply megaprojects, and announced that Prime Minister Imran Khan would inaugurate some projects in Karachi in February. On the centre’s relations with the Sindh government, he said, “Politics is not being done by any party on matters relating to public wellbeing,” and claimed that the required funds had been handed over to the province. He said the centre had already released its share of Rs13 billion for the project. He said currently the Sindh government was reviewing the design change of the K-1V project. The scheme aims to provide an additional 650mgd water to Karachi. However, informed circles say there are many obstacles in the way of the completion of the project and if they are not removed expeditiously, it will take many years to complete the project.

Later, a statement from a Sindh minister doubted the centre’s intentions to work with the provincial government. Politicians go on blaming each other for problems and things in Karachi continue to deteriorate. Anything can be explained away. Pretty clear thinking and sensible decisions are needed. Now Karachi is a wasteland with a million miseries. The common people need kindness, which even the deaf and the blind admire.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2020.

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