Local Governance Challenge in Karachi: A Crisis of Authority and  Coordination

Authors

Abdul Sami Department of Political Science, Forman Christian College University Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Mazhar Abbas Lecturer, Department of History, Government College University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

Local Governmen, Governance, Decentralisation, Authority, Challenge, Karachi

This research paper examines the structural and political factors contributing to Karachi’s

governance issues, primarily stemming from an excessive number of bureaucrats and

inadequate coordination. Karachi, the largest city and economic centre of Pakistan, is home

to almost 20 million people. The city’s weak infrastructure and poor governance lead to

numerous issues. Despite accounting for nearly 25 per cent of the nation’s GDP, the city is

poorly managed and has a dysfunctional power structure. Racial politics and continuous

power struggles between various political factions within the provincial bureaucracy are

the primary reasons why attempts to decentralise government have not resulted in efficient

local management. Among the city’s many major problems are insufficient public transit,

erratic water supply, garbage collection problems, and unbridled urban expansion. These

issues show how urgently improved governance is needed