Karachi woes

E-Paper | June 07, 2026

DESPITE having a population of almost 25 million, Karachi has been facing various problems for a long time. Crime, water scarcity, and power shortages are some of the major issues of the city.

Not only have these issues plagued Pakistan’s economic hub, they have also pulled the helpless people of Karachi into despair. The city has been having a severe water crisis which could result in violence. The worsening public transport has added fuel to the fire. The metro and green bus projects are yet to be completed. As a result, traffic jams are common.

Despite generating more than 60 per cent of revenue for Pakistan, Karachi hardly gets 10 per cent of the federal resources. The efforts by federal and provincial governments can pull Karachi out of crime, power shortages and unemployment.

Pollution, poor urban planning and the absence of a proper waste disposal system have turned Karachi into one of the world’s worst cities.

Fayyaz Ashfaq
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2019

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Newspaper

Pakistan’s awesome chariot of concord

Future historians

A mismanaged event

Irshad Ahmad

May 31, 2019 10:45am

I am agreed with Mr.Fayyaz Ashfaq ,but as per waste disposal system is Concerned actually we ourselves are responsible for huge dump of waste and rapperss weaving everywhere because we don’t follow the rules of waste disposal. There is neither concept of Dust Bin nor we bother to put waste in proper way but a very few people

Recommend 0

Tanaeel

May 31, 2019 11:01am

Very much true people have become mental patients due to lack of these basic amenities

Recommend 0

nafees

May 31, 2019 11:02am

very well said

Recommend 0

Javed Ahmed

May 31, 2019 11:50am

I will endorse the same issues, lack of funds utilization mechanism is also one main spring of these set backs . We should move towards solution now.

Recommend 0

Faisal Ashfaq

May 31, 2019 12:38pm

I ll second the issues of Pakistan one big city and commercial hub. Mr. Fayyaz try to highlight again the concerns and issues of the city but sorry to said it ll remain in news papper as artical people and concern person ll read and kept the paper at side. Problems ll remain there. I am really not able to understand comcern person and government offical dont want to solve it or they want keep bzy us with these concern so we r not able to ask our othrr rights, i ll leave my question here.

Recommend 0

Yawar Awan

May 31, 2019 03:02pm

For me this is one of the main issue

Recommend 0

Mahnoor Nasir

May 31, 2019 03:13pm

It's saddening that despite being the city that generates maximum revenue, Karachi is deprived of the very basic necessities and is constantly being held back from developing. Mr. Fayyaz has indeed raised an important issue and we need the authorities to realize this and work towards the betterment of the city.

Recommend 0

KHAWAJA .H. ODDO

May 31, 2019 11:10pm

Given the current population growth rate and migration influx, the housing demands in Karachi continue to grow. Lack of adequate planning is leading to improvised and makeshift solutions. The informal sector, for example, is catering to this growing housing demand by either purchasing single-storey homes from owners, or by entering into partnerships with them, in order to build high-rise apartment blocks. The extra rooms or floors built onto existing structures are creating increasingly congested housing to meet with the growing demand of low-income residents. These high-rises do not follow environmental or building control regulations set by the Karachi Building Control Authority. Poor families residing here often have little light or ventilation in their homes. They also have no lifts which make life very difficult for their elderly residents. These buildings are also built on dangerously shallow foundations, which face likely collapse in the event of an earthquake.

Recommend 0

Nuzhad meerani

May 31, 2019 11:15pm

So true Mr fayyaz. Karachi is the biggest city in Pakistan and also one of the most thickly populated cities in the world. Its population has increased rapidly and accordingly has given rise to many social problems. People of this metropolis are becoming more and more concerned about solving these serious problems.we believe some one has to come to seriously raise untapped areas of karachi loneliness.

Recommend 0