Achi news desk-
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has once again secured its position in Sindh, marking a fourth consecutive term in government. Ten cabinet ministers were recently sworn in, followed by three advisers to Prime Minister Murad Ali Shah, who is serving as the province’s chief minister for a third consecutive term. The party’s decision to maintain Shah’s leadership and reappoint ministers like Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Ali Shah, and Saeed Ghani for the third time suggests a certain level of satisfaction within the party with their progress.
During his election campaign in Lahore this year, PPP Chairman Billawal Bhutto Zardari promised to prioritize the development of Lahore, similar to that of Karachi. He emphasized the need for more development in Lahore than any other city in Pakistan. Although such slogans and statements are common during elections, when you compare the basic facilities available in the two cities, the reality appears to be quite different. Notably, Lahore has had centralized emergency services such as Rescue 1122 since 2006, while Karachi had its first centralized rescue service in mid-2022. The Lahore Metro bus service started in 2013, while the Karachi Green Line bus project, initiated by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leads the federal government, on the roads in 2021. In addition, buses on the Red Line in Karachi have only recently been taken to the roads. Karachi still does not have a similar project to the Orange Line Lahore train, which has been operational since 2020.
Once known as the “city of lights,” Karachi still grapples with high crime rates. In 2023, 90,000 cases of street crime were reported, up from the 80,000 reported in 2022. Although the Safe City Project in Karachi began in 2023, it has not yet been fully implemented. In comparison, the Punjab Safe City Project installed cameras across Lahore as early as 2015.
If Bilwal Bhutto Zardari’s claims about Karachi’s development are correct, one would predict a palpable sense of satisfaction among its residents. Although protests for fundamental rights are rare in Lahore, the streets of Karachi often become venues for expressing dissatisfaction with the development of the city. To substantiate this claim, I recently conducted a comprehensive survey to ascertain the grievances of the citizens of Karachi and gain an insight into their feelings and expectations. The survey was distributed across the city’s areas targeting individuals between the ages of 20 and 60. Most of those questioned belonged to the working class, and around 80% in the survey were members of the Urdu-speaking community.
Despite this ambitious charter, PPP faces the challenge of finding credible faces that can attract all stakeholders towards this common vision.
When asked what they thought was the city’s main problem, 89.8% of them stated that law and order was their main concern. This was followed by 71% mentioning the city’s crumbling infrastructure, 59% referring to water and sanitation issues, and 31% pointing to traffic congestion. In addition, 72% expressed dissatisfaction with living conditions.
When asked if they feel safe in the city, only 13% of citizens responded positively. Interestingly, these 13% were among the 20% of respondents who live in posh areas such as DHA or Karsaz. This stark irony highlights the widespread distrust of the provincial government in Karachi. Although it has enjoyed complete political authority and access to resources and funding to develop the city, the PPP has only made minor improvements, such as a few new buses and some road renovations, as progress.
Another question in the survey asked whether citizens perceived public services to be fairly distributed among Karachi residents. Alarmingly, 88% expressed dissatisfaction, highlighting the intense sense of marginalization they felt, even though the city contributed over half of Sindh’s population and generated 94% of its revenue.
Realizing a growing vacuum in the city’s political leadership, there was a notable move beyond the usual appeal for votes. For the first time, the PPP launched seven points [Charter of Karachi] during their election campaign, a document endorsed by Bilwal Bhutto Zardari. The charter, “One Voice, One City, One Authority, and One Karachi,” promises to celebrate Karachi’s diversity. However, in order to truly transform the megapolis, he stressed that all stakeholders must unite beyond political interests and other vested interests. PPP’s plan for Karachi promises to be inclusive, inviting everyone to contribute and serve the city, not just in the name of Karachi, but for its sake.
Despite this ambitious charter, PPP faces the challenge of finding credible faces that can attract all stakeholders towards this common vision. However, there is a lack of such representation in the recent cabinet appointments, raising the crucial question: Who will lead this charter in its true spirit?
Nevertheless, the PPP continues to hold sway in Sindh, securing its government for a fourth consecutive term. Moreover, with the recent election of President Asif Ali Zardari, a seasoned veteran renowned as a master craftsman in Pakistani politics, the PPP has a prominent figure at the helm. The party also prides itself on its mayoralty in Karachi and support from the federal government. Although the PPP has longed for a crown where it was represented at all levels of government, from the city to the provincial government and all the way to the federal government, the onus is now on the PPP to rise and show that he can achieve unstoppable progress. in accordance with the promises laid down in their Karachi Charter.
The people of Karachi can forgive, understanding that the city has been deprived of development and fulfillment of their basic needs for a long time. The leadership vacuum in the city is so significant that whoever steps up to bring about real progress will certainly gain the support of its citizens. The PPP should seize this opportunity and acknowledge the doubt about their ability and intention to deliver. Although the chances of seeing meaningful progress remain uncertain, the party must navigate the complexities of Karachi’s challenges with humility and diligence to gain the trust and support of its residents.
