Governance crisis blamed on lack of powers

KARACHI:

JI Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar has said that the city's long-standing problems stem from administrative inefficiency, lack of powers for local bodies, and unequal distribution of resources, blaming the provincial government for weakening grassroots governance.

He was speaking at the inauguration of Khayaban-i-Mehran Road in Sector 11-B, North Karachi, a project completed by the New Karachi Town Municipal Corporation (TMC). He said citizens had been deprived for years due to a system that restricts elected local representatives from accessing adequate funds and authority. He termed it a "system of control rather than devolution," saying town and union council representatives lack the resources to solve public issues despite being closest to the people.

Monem Zafar also criticised delays in major water projects and said JI representatives were still delivering development work despite financial and administrative constraints, including road construction and civic improvements in New Karachi.