KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday criticised the Sindh government for Karachi’s civic administration, law and order and healthcare delivery problems.
Addressing a press conference at Insaf House Karachi, PTI Sindh president Haleem Adil Sheikh described the recent deaths of four-year-old Shavez, who had drowned in the Lyari River, and young man Gulab, who died while trying to rescue the child, as an evidence of administrative failure.
The PTI leader said that despite the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s Rs63 billion budget and billions of rupees allocated for the city, major storm-water drains remained clogged with garbage while the Lyari River had become increasingly hazardous.
Referring to another recent incident in Mowach Goth in which a seven-year-old child allegedly died after falling into an uncovered manhole, he said the city roads, drainage system and public utilities had deteriorated, with residents continuing to face shortages of water, electricity and gas.
He said that HIV infections were increasing across Sindh and dozens of children had contracted the infection at Valika Hospital. He accused the provincial government of failing to provide adequate healthcare, education and law and order and security to people.
Criticising the latest increase in petroleum prices, Mr Sheikh said the government had raised petrol and diesel prices despite declining international oil prices, alleging that heavy taxation was driving up transport and food costs.
PTI Karachi President Raja Azhar on this occasion claimed that despite hundreds of millions of rupees allocated last year and Rs6 billion earmarked this year for drain cleaning, Karachi’s major and smaller storm-water drains remained choked.
Citing forecasts of heavy rainfall, he warned that the city could face severe urban flooding unless drainage channels were cleared immediately.
Turning to political activities of the party, Mr Sheikh announced that the PTI would observe August 5 as a “Black Day” and stage peaceful protests across Sindh and the rest of the country to mark three years since Imran Khan’s arrest. He said the party’s main gathering in Karachi would be held outside the Karachi Press Club.
Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2026
