KARACHI — Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab has called on the federal government to allocate at least Rs200 billion for the city’s development, saying the Rs20 billion package announced earlier was nothing more than a “lollipop” that fell far short of addressing the metropolis’ pressing needs.
Speaking at the inauguration of the newly developed Imam Mehdi Park and Sports Ground in New Rizvia Society on Tuesday, Wahab criticized what he described as Islamabad’s “symbolic gestures,” insisting that real progress required sustained financial support and on-ground efforts.
“Karachi’s problems cannot be solved from Islamabad,” the mayor remarked. “This city demands continuous attention and serious investment.”
He explained that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had already earmarked Rs28 billion for development projects this year, alongside an additional Rs10 billion for initiatives at the town level. Yet, he argued, without robust backing from the federal government, the city’s infrastructure and civic challenges would persist.
“This city belongs to its citizens, not contractors,” Wahab said, accusing the federal authorities of prioritizing contractors over the needs of ordinary people. He also took a swipe at past administrations, noting: “Those who failed to build basic roads in nine years now claim to be the voice of Karachi.”
Highlighting local development, the mayor pointed to the transformation of Imam Mehdi Park. Once a garbage dumping ground, the 5.5-acre site has been redeveloped at a cost of Rs150 million, now featuring walking tracks, football and cricket grounds, floodlights, and recreational spaces.
“Where there was once waste, there is now greenery,” Wahab said. “From both a social and religious perspective, this is a form of ongoing charity a gift to the citizens of Karachi. When the intention is right, Allah helps.”
He credited Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s vision for the city’s ongoing development, citing progress on the University Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, efforts to tackle water and sewage issues, and post-monsoon infrastructure restoration.
Wahab assured residents that 2025 would bring marked improvements in Karachi’s infrastructure, including long-awaited flyovers, underpasses, and drainage systems. Reiterating his commitment to the PPP manifesto, he pledged that his administration would continue to deliver “real, measurable change” across all districts of the city.
