Sharjeel criticizes federal government for 'low priority' given to Karachi

Karachi, Pakistan's economic powerhouse, is being given "low priority" by the federal government, according to Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon. He argued that the country's largest city shoulders immense economic and infrastructural burdens without adequate federal support, despite its significant contribution to the national economy.

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Karachi has been given low priority by the federal government.

Memon pointed to the city's struggles with migration, trade, employment, and transportation, exacerbated by national traffic converging on Karachi. "When you have to start a motorway, you should start it from Karachi. But it has been built everywhere except Karachi," he stated, emphasizing the need for development to begin at the nation's main port city.

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When you have to start a motorway, you should start it from Karachi. But it has been built everywhere except Karachi.

The Sindh government is actively working on projects to alleviate the pressure. These include plans to divert freight traffic away from the city center and develop a state-of-the-art transport terminal on the Northern Bypass. A railway line is also being developed to transport goods directly to the bypass, reducing the need for heavy vehicles to enter the city. Memon also noted the completion of the Shahrah-i-Bhutto project, which has improved travel times for commuters.

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All of Pakistan’s heavy traffic comes into Karachi and damages the infrastructure.

Despite acknowledging that the provincial government has made difficult decisions that may cause hardship, Memon stressed that Karachi faces unique challenges compared to other regions. He highlighted that the city's infrastructure is strained by continuous migration for employment opportunities and the significant volume of traffic from across Pakistan.

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We have taken some tough decisions. The public will have to face hardship, and we are apologising for that.