Karachi – The Gateway to Pakistan’s Progress faces challenges of rapid urban growth, inadequate infrastructure, and corruption. By implementing the right strategies in transport, housing, and governance, the city can become a dynamic, sustainable metropolis.
Karachi, the largest city, is home to over 20 million people. As the country’s financial capital, it contributes more than 25% to Pakistan’s GDP and hosts key industries, ports, and a vibrant business community. Despite its critical role in the nation’s economy, Karachi faces numerous challenges, including rampant pollution, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient waste management, dwindling green spaces, and governance issues. The accelerated urban growth has strained the city’s infrastructure, leading to environmental degradation and a decline in the quality of life. Drawing inspiration from Mumbai’s successes in city planning and economic expansion, Karachi has the potential to transform in to more habitable, vibrant, and economically dynamic city.
Karachi’s struggles:
Water scarcity is among the most pressing issues. The Karachi water and sewerage board [KASB] provides 665 MGD [millions of gallons per day] of water while estimated demand is 820 to 1200 MGD, leaving a shortfall of over 45%. This deficit has forced 40% of the population to rely on private water tankers, often at exorbitant costs. The unequal distribution of water unequally impacts low-income neighborhoods, where residents face severe shortages and compromised hygiene. Illegal water connections and theft further exacerbate the problem, with an estimated 30% of the city’s water lost to pilferage and leakages.
Additionally, Karachi generates approximately 12,000 to 16,500 tons of waste daily, of which less than 60% is collected and disposed of properly, leading to widespread pollution and health issues. This is due to rapid population growth, construction, and economic activity. The city’s waste management system is deficient with a lack of landfills, recycling facilities, and transfer stations. The city’s rapid growth has led to a shortage of space for the proper disposal and storage of solid waste. The government can resolve this by establishing advanced waste management facilities and promoting recycling initiatives.
Absence of a reliable public transport system results in over 4 million vehicles congesting the roads, causing severe traffic jams and contributing to Karachi’s ranking as one of the world’s most polluted cities. According to researchgate.net, Karachi loses an estimated 1 million dollars daily due to traffic congestion. Improving road infrastructure, enforcing traffic laws, and promoting carpooling can help ease congestion.
Limited green spaces further exacerbate environmental degradation. The city’s green cover is below 5%, far below the recommended urban standard of 25%, leaving residents susceptible to rising temperatures and poor air quality. Neglect from provincial and federal authorities has left Karachi unprepared to manage natural disasters, such as the urban flooding that has become a perennial issue during the monsoon season, displacing thousands of people and overhauling infrastructure.
A Parallel with Mumbai:
Mumbai, like Karachi, is a coastal megacity and an economic hub. However, stark contrasts exist between the two cities, largely due to differences in governance and urban planning. Mumbai has implemented effective planning initiatives. Mumbai, with a population around 20 million has a sturdy transportation network including over 400 kilometers of metro rail and 2,000+ local train stations, transporting 7 million commuters daily. In contrast, Karachi, with a population exceeding 16 million, faces severe traffic congestion with limited public transit option like the Karachi circular railway, which remains elementary and serves fewer than 100,000 passengers daily.
Economically, Mumbai contributes 6.16% of India’s GDP, fueled by sectors like finance, manufacturing and entertainment. Karachi, as Pakistan’s economic powerhouse contributes around 20% of country’s GDP, but it faces obstacles in infrastructure and economic diversification. Mumbai’s financial district, which houses 40% of India’s stock market turnover, is a marked difference to Karachi’s financial sector, which has seen slow growth in comparison.
In relation to urban planning, Mumbai has undertaken major slum redevelopment programs, impacting around 60% of the city’s population living in informal settlements. Karachi, however, encounter similar issues, with about 40% of its population living in informal settlements, yet fall short in the scale and organization of redevelopment projects observed in Mumbai.
These statistics emphasize the significant differences in infrastructure, economic power, and urban planning, suggesting that, by learning from Mumbai’s infrastructure and urban development strategies, Karachi could improve its public transportation, enhance its informal settlements, and better support its growing economy.
Karachi’s Future: Roads to Progress:
In Conclusion, Karachi’s obstacles_ stemming from unchecked urbanization, insufficient infrastructure, and systematic corruption_ require a comprehensive, tactical approach for sustainable development. Learning from Mumbai’s success in public transport, urban renewal, and economic diversification can provide a defined roadmap ahead. Karachi must invest in modern mass transit systems, in line with Mumbai’s metro expansion, to reduce congestion, and improve transportation efficiency. Urban development should prioritize slum rehabilitation and address the city’s unplanned communities, akin to Mumbai’s slum rehabilitation authority. Furthermore, Karachi must promote institutional reforms to combat corruption, ensuring effective governance and better service delivery.
By embracing proven strategies from Mumbai’s development model, Karachi can lay the foundation for a brighter, fair and inclusive future, turning its potential in to long -term growth and opportunities for all residents.