By ourl Correspondent
KARACHI: Politicians, academics, business leaders and civil society representatives gathered in Karachi for a national dialogue on the city’s future, calling for stronger local governance, fairer resource distribution and comprehensive administrative reforms to address the metropolis’s longstanding civic and economic challenges.
The discussion, titled “Karachi: Facts and Solutions”, was organised at the invitation of senior politician and MIT Chairman Dr Saleem Haider. Participants exchanged views on urban governance, the distribution of powers, civic rights and Sindh’s administrative structure.
Among those attending were National Dialogue Committee Chairman Mahmood Molvi, former federal finance minister Miftah Ismail, CPLC founding president Nazeem F. Haji, Sindh Assembly member Shaukat Rajput, former bureaucrat Muzaffar Alam Siddiqui, along with representatives from political parties, academia, business organisations, the legal fraternity, media and civil society.
Speakers described Karachi as Pakistan’s economic hub, noting its significant contribution to national revenue, exports and financial activity. They argued that despite its economic importance, the city continues to face serious challenges, including water shortages, deteriorating roads, inadequate sewerage infrastructure, poor solid waste management, transport problems, encroachments, unemployment and law and order concerns.
Participants presented differing views on how these issues should be addressed. Several speakers argued that lasting solutions require empowered local governments, a fair distribution of financial resources, greater devolution of administrative authority and stronger political representation for all communities living in the city.
Some participants also expressed the view that the urban population, particularly the Muhajir community, should have a more effective role in political decision-making and greater representation in matters relating to land management, development planning and urban governance. These views were expressed by some of the speakers during the discussion.
The dialogue also produced a series of proposals, including a fresh national census, a financially autonomous and empowered local government system, enhanced constitutional and administrative powers for Karachi, a fairer share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) and Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) awards based on population and revenue contribution, emergency plans to improve water supply, transport, sewerage and solid waste management, merit-based recruitment in the police and public institutions, employment and investment packages for industry and young people, and greater transparency in land records and urban planning.
The event concluded with an informal exchange of views among participants, who agreed to continue the dialogue in future meetings with the aim of developing practical recommendations for submission to the relevant authorities.
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