The solution to Karachi's problems lies not in a 'package' or secession from Sindh, but in the establishment of an empowered city government, claimed civil society representatives.
These views were expressed at a consultative meeting organised by the Shehri Awami Mahaz (SAM) on Saturday.
A joint declaration issued after the meeting stated that despite being the largest city in Pakistan, and the seventh-largest in the world, Karachi lacked basic civic amenities, even as its citizens raised an annual gross domestic product of $164 billion.
A 15-member organising committee was elected and the decision to launch a campaign on civic issues was agreed upon at the meeting, which also decided to hold a protest at Regal Chowk on September 17.
This is the only city in Pakistan for which the power supply was handed over to a foreign company causing constant suffering for its citizens, read the joint declaration. The city is under the control of land mafias with more than 65 per cent of its population living in unregulated slums, while around 40 per cent of its localities are deprived of drinking water, according to the declaration, which criticised the 'incompetence' of civic agencies and 'negligence' of political parties claiming to represent the city.
The declaration further decried the state of the city where over 60 stormwater drains have been reduced to gutters and waterways blocked by illegal construction. Plus, it pointed out, there is a lack of proper industrial and medical waste disposal, 60 per cent control and administration is by federal or federally affiliated entities, there is no viable public transport system, and housing schemes for citizens by the government have been absent for the past 40 years.
It lamented that the provincial and city governments had proved they had no concrete plan to solve the city's issues, adding that the census was a 'fraud,' deliberately misrepresenting the population and leading to a drastic decrease in the city's share in representation and resources.
Moreover, it expressed lack of faith in the development package announced by the premier - noting that citizens still await the packages announced earlier, and dismissing such packages as "a pack of lies."
"[We] believe that if provinces adopt a system of democratic city governments with powers in hand then cities like Karachi will not need any package or aid," it added.
The statement demanded an empowered city government system in consultation with the people, the abolition of CBC and DHA in line with the Supreme Court's decision, and for K-Electric, Karachi Development Authority, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and other civic bodies to come under local administration.
Furthermore, it called for all citizens to be provided housing and displaced families to be given alternative housing.
The statement demanded that education, health, roads, transport, water supply and drainage, policing, infrastructure development and the like be handed over to the city government too. Besides, it said, local bodies elections should be held under proportional representation while constituencies should be based on population and area without any discrimination.
Further, the demands included cleaning of all waterways in the city, removal of illegal encroachments in and around the sea, the provision of 5,000 buses for better public transport, and the establishment of effective water supply and improved sewerage systems in all areas.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2020.
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