KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Monday accused Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) of unnecessarily politicizing various issues and problems in an attempt to revive its declining political fortunes. He stated that the gas shortage was the responsibility of the federal government, while K-Electric was not under the administrative control of the Sindh government.
Water Shortage Concerns
Regarding the water shortage, Memon said that the Sindh government has already informed the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) through an official letter that the province is currently facing a 22 percent water shortage, which is also affecting Karachi. He emphasized that instead of focusing on resolving public problems, the MQM’s politics in Karachi revolved around using such issues for political gain.
PPP's Position on Federal Government
Memon clarified that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is neither an ally of the MQM-P nor of the federal government. He stated that the party had only extended support to the federal government for the continuation of the parliamentary system and the democratic process.
Karachi's Decline
“Karachi was once regarded as one of the finest cities in the world,” Memon said, adding that it was also the capital of Pakistan, and students from various regions, including the Gulf countries, came here for higher education. According to him, the city’s decline began when the foundations of ethnic and linguistic politics were laid.
The senior minister said that Karachi’s problems worsened when parks were converted into marriage halls by local government institutions. He added that the MQM leadership was fully aware of the facts, as parks and sports grounds were encroached upon and individuals later accused of serious crimes, including terrorism, were recruited into local government institutions.
Security and Governance Issues
He said that during the operations conducted in 2015 and 2016, several terrorists employed by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and the Water Board were identified. The local government system was severely damaged, accelerating Karachi’s decline. He alleged that some employees spent their time in unit and sector offices instead of performing their official duties.
Memon also noted that journalist Wali Khan Babar had reported on such issues and was later murdered. He further stated that Karachi was a port city through which a significant portion of the country’s heavy traffic passes. He added that Sindh’s share of infrastructure funds remained tied up in the Supreme Court due to various legal matters and was therefore not being made available to the province.
Economic Significance of Karachi
He said that Karachi contributed the highest revenue to the national economy. People from across Pakistan come to Karachi for employment, business, education and healthcare, he said, adding that if other cities offered better opportunities, people would choose to go there, but Karachi remains the country’s largest economic and commercial hub.
Memon reiterated that the Sindh government had officially informed IRSA that the province was facing a 22 percent water shortage. He said that water scarcity affected not only agriculture but also urban water supply. Karachi is the last major city in Sindh to receive water from the provincial distribution system; therefore, when overall water availability declines, the impact is directly felt in Karachi as well, he added.
