PDP Chairman Altaf Shakoor Urges Pro-Poor Budgeting For Karachi Slums

Civic Crisis Deepens In Megacity

Altaf Shakoor expressed deep concern over the worsening civic conditions found in Katchi Abadies and Goths of Karachi. He stated that a severe imbalance exists in how municipal funds are currently allocated across the city. Upscale neighborhoods receive hefty budgets for infrastructure while sprawling slum areas remain starved of necessary civic funds. The chairman regretted a systemic bias in utilizing the Sindh Local Government budget that neglects low-income settlements.

Funding Gap Between Rich And Poor

High-income districts like Clifton, Defence Housing Authority, and Gulshan-e-Iqbal have seen rapid upgrades including repaved roads and new streetlights. In stark contrast, densely populated areas such as Orangi Town, Lyari, Sachal Goth and Machar Colony suffer from crumbling infrastructure. These neglected zones face open sewage lines and a distinct lack of clean drinking water for residents. Infrastructure expenditure per person in affluent neighborhoods far exceeds that found in locations such as Lyari.

Basic Necessities Remain Out Of Reach

Slum areas currently lack proper water supply and regular garbage collection services which are essential for public health. During the monsoon season, people frequently endure weeks of no water and depend on open drains that flood. There is a visible correlation between this lack of civic facilities and outbreaks of waterborne diseases in these communities. The chairman described this trend as a structural failure that exacerbates poverty and marginalization for struggling families.