KARACHI (HRNW): Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Sindh spokesperson Muhammad Ali Baloch has said that Liaquatabad Town, one of Karachi’s major commercial and business centres, has been deprived of basic civic amenities despite its economic significance. He alleged that the town administration led by Jamaat-i-Islami had failed to address pressing municipal issues, leaving the area plagued by poor sanitation, a deteriorating sewerage system, encroachments and crumbling infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Friday, Mr Baloch said that almost every block of Liaquatabad Town was littered with heaps of garbage, while overflowing drains and clogged sewerage lines had created unhygienic conditions, increasing the risk of dengue, malaria, gastroenteritis and other infectious diseases. He added that waste had accumulated in almost every second street, reflecting what he described as the complete failure of the local administration to provide basic sanitation services.
He said residents had elected the Jamaat-i-Islami town chairman in the hope of improving civic conditions, but no meaningful change had been witnessed. According to Mr Baloch, claims of development existed only on paper, while the ground realities painted an entirely different picture.
The PTI leader further alleged that the town’s sewerage infrastructure had collapsed, with many roads in a dilapidated condition. Even roads constructed recently had deteriorated within a short period, raising serious questions about the quality and transparency of development projects.
Mr Baloch also expressed concern over widespread encroachments and what he described as the unchecked business of illegal portions and unauthorised construction. He alleged that land grabbers were constructing six- to seven-storey buildings on 45-square-yard residential plots in violation of building regulations, warning that such structures posed a serious threat to public safety and could lead to a major tragedy. He called for immediate and indiscriminate action against illegal construction, land grabbers and those involved in unlawful housing schemes.
He said that despite Liaquatabad being one of Karachi’s most densely populated localities, no major family park had been established, while existing parks had fallen into disrepair, depriving residents, particularly children, women and the elderly, of recreational facilities.
Mr Baloch demanded an immediate, transparent and forensic audit of Liaquatabad Town’s development funds and annual budget so that the public could determine how taxpayers’ money had been utilised. He maintained that the elected town administration must be held accountable if it failed to provide essential municipal services.
He added that Liaquatabad Town could only be restored as a livable and well-managed urban centre through practical reforms, transparent governance, quality development projects and an effective local government system rather than political slogans.
