PM in Karachi

PM’s reluctance to focus on the failings of his own party’s governments is becoming more worrying by the day

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s trip to Karachi has resulted in some interesting developments and serious politicking. During a meeting with the Sindh Governor and the CM, various development schemes came up, along with the wheat shortage, locust attacks, increasing polio cases, and the coronavirus threat. Unofficially, it appears that the transfer of the inspector general of Sindh Police also came up. Official statements suggest that the CM brought up a few key projects that are still pending approval or financing from the Centre. The PTI’s lack of interest in moving these projects ahead suggests it wants to avoid letting the MQM-P take credit for development.

The PM’s claim that he will direct Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar to expedite the projects rings hollow when considering that many of these projects are considered essential. Bus and train projects are critical to improving transportation in the country’s financial hub and biggest city. Running water is a luxury for many in Karachi, making K-IV a necessity as well. The PM also previously expressed his desire to initiate projects in Karachi, including a ‘comprehensive package’ of Rs162 billion for the city’s development. But these are still not concrete. Even Umar recently said the PM would visit Karachi in February to inaugurate some development projects, but details remain limited.

During the trip, the PM also met Pir Pagara, but oddly, there were no official meetings with MQM-P leaders. Separately, Imran also spoke at a Kamyab Jawan Programme event, where he repeated details about the project and the government’s Hunarmand Jawan and Ehsaas for Students programmes. Mostly though, despite being premier for 18 months, he was still repeating anti-corruption and meritocracy-related election rhetoric. The reality is that meritocracy is taking a backseat to realpolitik. All three PTI governments — Islamabad, Punjab, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa — are fraught with infighting and palace intrigue, which is affecting performance.

The PM’s criticism of the Sindh government’s performance may be objectively fair, but his reluctance to focus on the failings of his own party’s governments is becoming more worrying by the day.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2020.

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