Empowering Karachi: Experts call for stronger local government

IV Report

KARACHI: A forum titled Sabka Ijlaas, held at the Pakistan Medical Association premises on February 8, brought together experts and right activists to emphasise the need for a well-integrated and financially strong overseeing body for Karachi. The city is currently facing infrastructure challenges that are causing concerns among its residents.

The meeting, organised by Sabka Foundation, featured Dean Prof Dr Noman Ahmed, economist Dr Kaiser Bengali, and Former Karachi Administrator Fahim Zaman Khan as key speakers. The consensus among participants was that the present local government system in Karachi needs to be empowered economically, socially, and politically under new constitutional provisions.

Dr Noman Ahmed highlighted the need for a functional oversight committee to ensure accountability and transparency in governance. He also emphasised the importance of incorporating a new chapter on local government in Pakistan's Constitution.

Dr Kaiser Bengali stressed that Karachi's municipal organisations, as well as local governments in other cities and districts, need overhauling and financial autonomy. Fahim Zaman advocated for empowering the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) as the sole authority responsible for managing Karachi.

Attendees expressed concerns about urban inequality, with Amber Alibhai emphasising the need for good citizenship to drive change. Faraz Ali highlighted the stark difference between DHA and the rest of Karachi, while Tariq Shamsi pointed out Karachi's significant economic contribution to the country.

Sabka President Nazim Haji and former PMA head Dr Tipu Sultan also spoke at the event, stressing the importance of empowering Karachi through reform for the welfare of all.

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 9, 2025 at 1:22 PM

    Correct start identifying potential ways of improving.
    Next, detailed discussion on what each of the proposed solutions will address.
    Then how to put these in place to be effective.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Aman SiddiquiFebruary 10, 2025 at 10:11 AM

    It is only the "How" that needs to be addressed . Residents of Karachi are well versed with the issues facing the city and what the proposed solutions are expected to achieve . SABKA should only focus on how this can be done Nothing else .Enough debate on the problems and issues . We need a strategy on "How"

    ReplyDelete

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