Awam Pakistan Party Secretary General Miftah Ismail and the Sindh government engaged in a heated exchange on Saturday after the former finance minister criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) governance in the province. Ismail, addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, said the PPP, having ruled Sindh for 18 consecutive years, could no longer blame previous governments for the province's problems.
Ismail highlights Karachi's poor international ranking
Ismail cited an international city ranking survey that placed Karachi low in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. He claimed nearly half of Karachi's population lacks access to clean water, public transport faces a shortage of thousands of buses, and major infrastructure projects have suffered from delays and alleged mismanagement.
Economic criticism and demand for reforms
On the economic front, Ismail criticised rising inflation, heavy taxation, and petroleum levies. He argued that structural reforms, transparency, and investment in public services are essential for national recovery. The former finance minister urged the provincial government to take responsibility for its performance.
Sindh government's rebuttal
Responding to the criticism, Sindh government spokesperson Saadia Javed rejected Ismail's allegations. She said Ismail should first account for his own economic policies before commenting on Karachi's affairs. Javed dismissed the international ranking, arguing that such surveys do not always reflect ground realities, and stated that Karachi remains Pakistan's economic hub.
