KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister for Information and Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon has stated that the provincial government has no responsibility for Karachi’s ongoing gas, electricity, and water shortages, terming criticism from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) as “politically motivated.”
In a statement issued on Monday, Memon said that the gas supply system falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government, while electricity distribution—managed through K-Electric—is also outside the administrative control of the Sindh government.
He added that the water crisis in Karachi is linked to a province-wide shortage, with Sindh officially informing the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) that it is currently facing a 22 percent water deficit. According to him, this shortage is directly impacting Karachi’s urban water supply.
The minister accused MQM-P of attempting to “politicize public issues” for political gain, arguing that the party is trying to shift responsibility for federal and institutional matters onto the provincial government.
He further stated that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is neither aligned with MQM-P nor with the federal government, but has supported the federal setup to ensure continuity of democratic and parliamentary systems in the country.
Reflecting on Karachi’s past, Memon said the city was once among the world’s leading urban centers and a major hub for education, commerce, and migration. He argued that its decline began with the rise of ethnic and linguistic politics, which he claimed contributed to governance failures and urban mismanagement.
He also alleged that misuse of municipal institutions in the past, including the conversion of public spaces and alleged infiltration of individuals with criminal backgrounds into local bodies, worsened governance in the city. Referring to past operations in 2015 and 2016, he claimed that some employees of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and water board were linked to illegal activities.
Memon also mentioned the killing of journalist Wali Khan Babar, citing it as an example of past violence linked to urban instability.
He stressed that Karachi remains Pakistan’s largest economic hub, contributing significantly to national revenue and attracting people from across the country for employment, education, and healthcare opportunities. He added that infrastructure funding issues and legal constraints have also affected development spending in Sindh.
Reiterating the water situation, he said Karachi is the last major city in Sindh to receive water from the provincial distribution network, meaning any reduction in supply disproportionately impacts the metropolis.
