KARACHI: Expressing concern over deteriorating urban civic facilities in Karachi, Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor said here on Sunday that modernization of the megacity must begin with a unified master plan and emergency infrastructure fixes.
He said a sequenced, human-centric approach is the key to transforming Pakistan’s economic hub.
He said transforming Karachi into a modern urban city requires a fundamental shift in approach, starting with a single, enforceable master plan and the immediate stabilization of water, sewerage, and waste systems.
He said that piecemeal projects have failed because they lack a unifying framework.
He said for decades, Karachi has grown without a coherent blueprint.
“The starting point now must be a unified, data-driven master plan that integrates transport, water, drainage, and waste management — and that is legally enforceable,” he said.
Referring to current efforts such as the Sindh government’s World Bank-supported Master Plan and the longer-term Greater Karachi Regional Plan 2047 as critical foundations, he emphasized that these plans must be human-centric, prioritizing the protection of residents in informal settlements from displacement without sufficient resources.
“Urban policy needs to shift from clearing informal settlements toward functional integration and inclusive planning,” he said.
The second priority is the emergency stabilization of core infrastructure. Karachi’s untreated sewage flowing into the sea via the Lyari and Malir rivers remains a major environmental and health crisis, said Shakoor.
The Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan (STP-III) is being expedited, and a desalination plant is proposed to address water scarcity, with the World Bank-funded Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project serving as a key vehicle. The megacity generates thousands of tonnes of waste daily, and collection and disposal systems have collapsed, he said.
“We need immediate modernization and investment. Roads are in disrepair, and broken drainage causes wastewater to overflow onto streets. The recent Rs84.796 billion grant-in-aid for 523 schemes, including road rehabilitation and drainage improvements, is a step in the right direction, but it must be part of a larger, sequenced plan,” he said.
Mobility is the third pillar. Traffic congestion is a severe economic and quality-of-life drain. The solution, he suggested, is not more roads but a modern, integrated transport system.
The Red Line and Yellow Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects are critical, though they have faced funding bottlenecks. “We must end the fragmented authority over traffic signals, signage, and road design,” Shakoor said.
“No single authority currently controls these elements, leading to bottlenecks and accidents. The introduction of smart traffic signals and AI-enabled cameras under the Karachi Safe City Project is a positive step, but it needs to be scaled up,” he said.
He said technology can make governance and services more efficient. Phase-II of the Safe City Project involves installing over 2,300 smart cameras with facial and number-plate recognition, panic buttons, and surveillance drones.
However, a major challenge is the “data deficit” — Karachi lacks an integrated platform consolidating climate, water, and health data for routine operations and emergencies. “Building this data infrastructure is a prerequisite for truly smart city management,” he noted.
The PDP chairman called for nature-based solutions to combat urban flooding and the heat island effect. The “Sponge City” concept, which uses green spaces, permeable surfaces, and water retention to manage rainfall is advocated.
He said the absence of open and green spaces negatively impacts quality of life in Karachi. The main hindrance is lack of government support, followed by high maintenance costs and a shortage of skilled individuals.
Finally, modernization must not come at the cost of the city’s existing communities and heritage. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has launched a Rs700 million project to revive historic markets like Jodia Bazaar and Bolton Market, he said.
“The approach should balance physical restoration with utilitarian service delivery, addressing issues like traffic congestion, while integrating informal settlements rather than displacing them.”
Shakoor urged the Sindh government, federal authorities, and international partners to adopt this sequenced approach.
“The starting point is a sequence: first, establish the plan and governance to end fragmentation; second, immediately stabilize water, sewerage, and waste; third, build mobility and digital systems on that stable base; and fourth, ensure the entire process is green and inclusive from the outset,” he said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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