Sindh vs Centre

The civic infrastructure in Karachi has been left to crumble and things are getting worse

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, has claimed that the Centre is attempting to make Karachi, the port city and the financial hub of Pakistan, its ‘colony.’ Bilawal made the statement at a press conference in Sindh’s capital recently, obviously in response to the federal government’s proposals regarding constitutional and legal options as remedies to cure the ills of Karachi, the ‘sick man’ of Pakistan.

Bilawal’s allegation against the Centre reflects his party’s opinion, and it may or may not be true. But the civic infrastructure in the biggest city of the country has been left to crumble and things are getting worse and worse. Another concomitant reality too cannot be denied that the PPP has been ruling Sindh for the past 12 years without a break. Many political players may be blamed for the utter neglect of Karachi though and rightly so.

The latest charge brought against the federal government by the young PPP leader is obviously part of the ongoing tug of war between the Centre and Sindh. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the party in power at the Centre as well as in Punjab, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces; the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, which represents Karachi and Hyderabad and is also a coalition partner of the ruling PTI at the Centre; and the PPP, the ruling party in Sindh, have lately been involved in a war of words overs issues affecting Karachi.

All three claim to know the remedies that can restore the most populous city of Pakistan back to the pink of health. The PPP claims to have taken effective steps for the good of the city residents and promises to do more in future. These claims have their supporters and opponents depending on which side of the divide they are; even though politicians promise to build bridges where there are no rivers and claim to have built bridges over non-existent rivers.

Bilawal has, however, welcomed the decision to seek NDMA’s help in cleaning out choked drains in Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2020.

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