evolution of power to local governments ensures that ordinary citizens are well-represented and included in decisions that have a direct impact on them.

In Pakistan, however, local government elections have rarely been held on time. This has sometime been explained in terms of a reluctance on the part of provincial governments to share powers and scarce resources with another tier.

The absence of a functional third tier is nowhere as conspicuous as in Karachi – the largest city and economic hub of Pakistan.

The citizens of Karachi have not been served too well by those have lorded over the city, one after the other.

Every year, monsoon rains begin in July and wreak havoc in the city till September. The urban floods that inundated Karachi this year took a heavy toll on the city’s infrastructure, the effects of which are still being felt.

Asked about their expectations from the local body elections, many citizens said that their biggest concern was the condition the metropolitan’s infrastructure was in.

Kulsoom Bano, who works in one of the city’s industrial areas, told The News on Sunday that commuting from her home to her workplace was becoming increasingly difficult. “We keep a count of the potholes that will be in our way every time we leave home and try to plan our routes accordingly,” she said. “I have to leave an hour early to avoid getting late to work,” she added.

Commenting on the state of traffic, Bano said “it is beyond me how the roads can be so congested. During rush hours, heavy vehicles, like tankers and trucks, plying on the roads add to the mayhem.”

Bano said that there appeared to be two parallel systems in place in the country. “Look at the Punjab, it has an adequate city management system and there is no lawlessness. Now, look at Karachi, the city paying the most taxes in the country. It has a plethora of problems including a poor law and order situation and a lack of urban planning,” said Bano.

Speaking of her expectations from the local government, Bano said that finding a solution to the problems she had highlighted was the responsibility of the elected local bodies and the mayor. “Only a dedicated local government can solve the problems the citizens face on an everyday basis. If we don’t get one, these problems will persist and eventually take a toll on our mental and physical health,” she asserted.

Shakeel Siddiqui who works as a delivery man in Karachi was also perturbed by the poorly maintained roads. Gesturing towards his bike he said, “This bike is beginning to look at least ten years old but it is not. I bought it zero meter last year but the roads are so poor that it is starting to look at least ten years old.”

Siddiqui, aged 51, also said that he had a constant backache because of the bumpy roads. He said that except for Shara-i-Faisal, which was a thoroughfare for the elite, all roads were made of low-quality materials.

According to Siddiqui, the situation could have been better if a functional local government system were in place and regular elections were held. “Someone would have stepped up and assumed responsibility for our problems,” he said.

Suha Tariq, a psychologist, remarked that mismanagement of the city was adversely impacting the mental health of its citizens. “Imagine the frustration of the citizens when they inhale the fumes from burning trash on their way to work. They come back after a two-hour bike ride that should have taken thirty minutes,” she said, adding “of course such a city, lacking basic amenities, would take a toll on the mental health of its citizens.
Tariq said that living in Karachi was becoming an endless struggle. “From the moment people wake up, they are stressed out. They are worried about a thousand things including whether they will find cooking gas in their kitchen, water in their taps and a meal to eat. Then, they worry about how to commute to work because the administration has failed to provide an affordable mass transit system. They travel on broken roads to arrive at workplaces where they are underpaid,” she said. “All of these are stressors,” she pointed out.

Speaking of the mental condition of the citizens, Tariq said that the rampant street crime was making people fearful. “Symptoms of depression and anxiety are a frequent sight. Unfortunately, most people are unable to afford therapy. Some are even unaware of their problems,” said Tariq.

“No hopes from

political parties”

Oonib Azam, a journalist who covers the local government, said that the citizens, particularly those belonging to marginalised groups, had no hopes of any local government or political franchise.

He said that the absence of local governance impacts people who already belong to disenfranchised segments of society, the most. “For instance, Karachi saw a huge anti-encroachment drive the purpose of which was to prevent urban floods and widen the rainwater drains,” he said.

The authorities have been working on Gujjar, Orangi and Mehmoodabad nullahs. These are the three most important rainwater drains of the city. “The drive started and a lot of people were displaced. No political party, not even the ones in the opposition, represented the displaced citizens,” he said.

Azam said that although thousands of houses were demolished to widen the nullah, Gujjar nullah was still flooded in 2022.

Talking about transport-related problems in the city, Azam said that projects like the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) should have been completed a decade ago, according to Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Azam said the provincial government should let the local government system handle these issues instead of becoming proactive at the end of its term. “Local bodies are closer to the people. They are more aware of their needs,” he said.

The writer is a Karachi-based journalist who covers politics, human rights and environment. He tweets at @sheharyaralii