Veteran journalist Mazhar Abbas says that the economic center of Pakistan has sunk like our economy.
Another year has seen Karachi, the country’s economic hub, be ruined by heavy rains. Despite the Meteorological Department’s warning of heavy monsoon rains, Karachi and its administration were once again beginning to fall.
There were at least five people on Monday, the second day of Eid-ul-Adha killed While many had to face power cuts for hours. Citizens are also stuck in their homes due to the accumulation of rain water on the roads.
Former prime minister Imran Khan said the city’s floods were once again a reflection of the PPP’s “14 years of corruption and mismanagement in ruling Sindh”.
“My government had given Rs 35 billion for cleaning and rebuilding major drains, but the provincial government failed to do its job of improving solid waste disposal and cleaning up minor drains,” he said.
Journalist Talat Hussain said the Shahbaz government would not say a word about Karachi as its survival depended on the support of the PPP, MQM and “the people who are running the DHA – the ‘real estate’ within real estate”.
“Bahria is [a] Sacred cow for all as it is a national benefactor. So as the city remains shrouded in filth and misfortune, everyone remains calm,” he said.
Anchor Shifa Yousafji shared the video on the rain water accumulated on the streets of the city, said- Karachi should be declared [a] National Emergency. Now or never!!!”
PTI leader Shahryar Afridi said that Karachi is once again flooding, causing citizens to question the government’s decision for the last 15 years.
“Imported federal government [a] Silent observer of this chaos. They want this kind of democracy, where they rule forever without accountability.”
Social activist Gibran Nasir criticized Karachi’s administrator Murtaza Wahab, saying the city stood exactly where it was two years ago, when record torrential rains wreaked havoc in the metropolis.
“It is not the rule to put up fancy lights at places,” he said.
Muhammad Basharat Raja of PTI was of the opinion that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah could not do for Karachi in 15 years what former Punjab CM Usman Buzdar had achieved for Lahore in 3.5 years.
“Those who use #Karachi as an emotional threat and inducement during political discourse should at least feel some remorse today.”
Veteran journalist Mazhar Abbas said that the economic center of Pakistan has sunk like our economy.
“With more heavy forecast for the next four days, god knows what will happen. How can you progress if you can’t defend your main centre? 75 years of Pakistan.”
Ali Haider Zaidi of PTI insisted that Karachi should be declared a disaster-hit city and a state of emergency should be declared. “There’s no governance. Where’s the PDMA?” He asked.
Former Sindh governor Imran Ismail said the city was sinking amid the PPP-MQM partnership.
“Both are doing nothing but blaming each other. Helpless citizens are waiting for help [city] Administrators along with their supporters are busy swimming on Sharia Faisal.” He added that PTI workers were on the streets to help the citizens.
He also shared a video of a neighborhood flooded with rainwater, saying: “This is my Karachi, which has been ruined by the PPP’s incompetent leadership.”
However, journalist Zebunisa Burki noted that even well-planned cities in planned countries face urban flooding during such rains.
He said, “I am hurt by what this means for Karachi. Stay safe and please think of those trying to fix roads, electricity and miscellaneous this season.”