Deteriorating Situation of Karachi – A Possible Solution?

Despite the devastation caused by the unusual rains in Karachi and most parts of Sindh province, there was no communication between the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Sindh to deal with the situation.

Thank God this self-imposed stalemate ended yesterday. The Prime Minister spoke with the Chief Minister on the situation in Karachi and inland Sindh and assured all possible cooperation in resolving the issues faced.

The Prime Minister also announced the good news that a long term plan was being formulated for Karachi and said that he would personally visit Karachi in the next few days to personally scrutinize the situation.

The Prime Minister's direct contact with the elected head of the provincial government is undoubtedly a basic requirement of the democratic system and it is expected that the process of practical cooperation between the federation and Sindh will begin immediately without any hesitation.

Addressing the review meeting regarding Karachi, the Prime Minister said that the federal government was fully aware of the development needs and problems of the people of Sindh, especially Karachi, and the federal government would play its role in this regard.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also drawn the attention of Sindh Chief Minister to the important issues related to the devastation in Karachi and the province. In a telephone conversation with the Chief Minister, he pointed out the fact that the devastation caused by the recent rains is not limited to Karachi but extends to the entire province. He said that the provincial government should conduct a survey of the damage to public and private property in the entire province including Karachi and take all necessary steps to rectify it.

Of course, there is an urgent need for rehabilitation work in the whole of Sindh province and the federal government should fully cooperate in this, but it is also important to keep in mind the fact that the record-breaking rains in Karachi in particular caused more destruction.

The local government system was completely suspended. Even in the case of cleaning up of storm drains, the responsibility was shifted from the local and provincial governments to each other, due to which the entire drainage system became inoperable. In the last few days before the rains, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) worked on a war footing, but it was impossible to reopen drainage routes that have been blocked by decades of illegal encroachment. As a result, rainwater remained standing for hours on most of the city's roads and highways, and the situation has not yet returned to normal, with the city's infrastructure completely destroyed and needs to be rebuilt.

Not only do we need significant financial resources, but both the federal and provincial governments must work with full compassion and sincerity, going beyond political interests, otherwise the current state of the country's economic center will cause irreparable damage at the national level.

The Prime Minister IMRAN KHAN has announced the preparation of a long-term plan for the rehabilitation and development of Karachi, which he hopes will provide a lasting solution to the city's problems.

Extensive consultation and participation of all concerned departments should be ensured in the preparation of this plan. The PTI's manifesto promised to introduce a modern system of local government across the country, enabling citizens to solve their own problems by transferring power to the public, as in developed countries. For a metropolitan city like Karachi, this system is essential and a lasting solution to the city's problems.