KARACHI: As the post-budget debate in the Sindh Assembly entered its second day on Saturday, opposition parties united in rejecting the provincial financial plan for 2026-27 over Karachi’s deepening civic woes, including persistent water shortage.

The situation in a thinly attended house remained tense as members belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) harshly criticised the provincial government for the acute water shortage and poor road infrastructure in Karachi while the treasury members blamed the federal government for the shortage of water in the Indus River.

The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) members credited the party leadership and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah for presenting a “balanced budget that prioritises health, education and women’s empowerment.”

The opposition members, however, painted a starkly different picture and dismissed the budget as “undemocratic”, saying it offered little relief for Karachi, leaving it dry and in ruins.

Debate in provincial assembly continues for second day

Opening the debate, PPP’s Noor Muhammad Bhurgari said the budget had been framed in “difficult circumstances” and that development work had continued despite limited resources.

He urged the Centre to take notice of the severe water shortage in Sindh and called for urgent repairs to broken canal bridges in Nawabshah that have caused accidents.

PPP’s Nida Khuhro also defended the government’s record, citing 900 completed projects despite floods and inflation, and funding to major hospitals.

She said that criticism was the opposition’s right, but asked what the MQM-P had delivered during its time in power.

PPP’s Maleeha Manzoor said that there was a 40 per cent water shortage in Sindh. “Water is life. Do not take Sindh’s life away,” she said.

MQM-P lawmaker Bilqees Mukhtar said that Karachi had been turned into ruins with acute water shortage and broken roads. “We don’t accept a government or democracy that doesn’t benefit the common man,” she said.

She deplored that opposition members received no funds for uplift projects in their respective constituencies, while treasury lawmakers got Rs500 million each.

PPP’S Yousuf Baloch termed the budget “people-friendly” and praised what he called “revolutionary steps” like the Pink Bus and Pink Scooty schemes for women.

He claimed narcotics in Lyari had been curbed by 60pc, adding that Rs25bn in projects had been given to the area by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

PTI member Rehan Bandukra criticised the government for poor health and nutrition facilities for women and said that 50pc of newborns in the province were stunted due to malnutrition.

He said Karachi stood at a critical juncture as it lacked civic facilities.

MQM-P’s Dr Fauzia Hameed said that nothing was good as people in the city were running after tankers with no water, no power and no gas.

She argued the budget offered no public relief and that Karachi, which contributed “95pc of revenue,” had been allocated only Rs100bn. “If the government hospitals are so good, why do they [those in the government] get treatment from private hospitals?” she asked.

MQM-P’s Kiran Masood said the city was Pakistan’s “breadwinner” but its schools lacked basic things like washrooms, tap water, labs, chowkidars and peons.

She expressed concerns over the law and order situation in the city and said that her own vehicle had been snatched recently.

PTI member Sajid Mir rejected the budget outright. “Where did trillions go? Karachi’s people ask,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2026