Karachi, a city of stark contrasts, has been plagued by a plethora of issues, with the most pressing one being the collapse of its master plan. The city’s economic hub, Karachi is home to a thriving real estate sector, but the unbridled and unregulated construction has left the city’s infrastructure in shambles. The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) is supposed to be the watchdog, ensuring that buildings are constructed in accordance with the rules and regulations, but corruption has taken over, leaving the city in a precarious state.
The city’s master plan, which was supposed to provide a framework for growth and development, has gone missing in action. The SBCA and other regulatory bodies have failed to enforce the laws, allowing corrupt builders to flourish. The result is a city where commercial plots are being approved for as little as 2 crores and as much as 8 crores, with the builder paying an additional 0.3 to 0.5 million rupees in bribes during the construction process.
The prices of residential units have skyrocketed, with many units being sold for exorbitant amounts. The city’s infrastructure, including roads and basic amenities, is in a state of disrepair, with different bodies responsible for different aspects of the infrastructure. For instance, the road construction is the responsibility of one body, while the maintenance of the roads is the responsibility of another.
The city’s residents are suffering due to the lack of basic amenities, including clean water and sanitation. The situation has become so dire that people are forced to live in squalid conditions, with many families being forced to share toilets and bathrooms.
The situation has reached a boiling point, with many residents taking to the streets to protest against the corruption and incompetence of the city’s authorities. The Sindh Assembly has been the epicenter of the protests, with many opposition leaders and activists calling for the city’s master plan to be revised.
The city’s politicians have been accused of turning a blind eye to the corruption, with many of them being accused of receiving bribes and kickbacks. The provincial government has been criticized for its failure to address the issue, with many residents calling for a single authority to be responsible for the city’s development.
In a rare display of unity, opposition leaders from different parties, including the PTI, PPP, and MQM, have come together to demand action against the corruption and incompetence of the city’s authorities. The situation is so dire that even the city’s residents are speaking out against the corruption, with many calling for the city’s master plan to be revised and a new authority to be established to oversee the city’s development.
As the city teeters on the brink of collapse, the people of Karachi are left to wonder when the authorities will take action to address the corruption and incompetence that has plagued the city for so long.
