Saifuddin Advocate, the opposition leader in Karachi’s city council, has launched scathing criticism against the city’s mayor from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), labeling him the worst in the city’s history. Speaking at a press conference held at the KMC building, Saifuddin Advocate demanded a forensic audit of the Competitive and Livable City of Karachi (CLICK) initiative, along with significant reforms in municipal governance. Accompanied by leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Saifuddin Advocate accused the mayor of neglecting opposition voices during the budget compilation process. “Defying all traditions, the mayor neglected opposition parties completely in compiling the budget,” he stated, criticizing the mayor for minimal consultation and last-minute sharing of statistics. Highlighting the mayor’s performance over the past year, Saifuddin Advocate pointed out discrepancies in promised infrastructure improvements.
“Despite promising 75 sewage covers per Union Council (UC), only 15 were delivered,” he claimed. He further criticized the lack of development funds allocated to UCs from Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) budget. Regarding Karachi’s financial contributions, Saifuddin Advocate lamented that despite generating substantial tax revenue, Karachi remains neglected by the PPP government.
“Hospitals, parks, playgrounds, and libraries are in disarray,” he added, pointing out failures in essential services like sewerage and water supply, forcing many Karachiites to purchase water. Advocating for administrative reforms, Saifuddin Advocate demanded the devolution of the water board and solid waste management board to town and UC levels. He emphasized the need for a forensic audit of CLICK, alleging potential corruption involving billions of rupees. “The local bodies department has become a hub of corruption,” he declared. In conclusion, Saifuddin Advocate called for transparency in motor vehicle tax proceedings and urged against imposing new taxes on Karachi residents. He stressed the importance of including stakeholders in water board management decisions to ensure accountability and effective governance. The opposition leader’s critique underscores ongoing challenges in Karachi’s governance and demands for immediate reforms to address citizen concerns and improve municipal services.
