KARACHI: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has dismissed criticism from opposition parties regarding ongoing development projects in Karachi, asserting that the efforts are aimed at modernizing the city’s infrastructure. Karamullah Waqasi, spokesperson for the Mayor of Karachi and the PPP’s parliamentary leader in the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, stated that the criticism is “politically motivated and detached from facts.”

According to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Waqasi emphasized that significant projects, including the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Monwar Chorangi Underpass, Pehlwan Goth Road, and Azeempura Flyover, are poised to reshape Karachi’s landscape. He cited directives from Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to expedite work and improve quality as evidence of the party’s commitment to performance-driven governance.

In response to statements from opposition figures such as Haleem Adil Sheikh and Muneem Zafar Khan, Waqasi argued that the opposition parties have resorted to baseless allegations due to the scale of development undertaken by the PPP. He criticized their focus on “token politics,” urging them to recognize the tangible changes in infrastructure.

Waqasi highlighted ongoing projects aimed at easing traffic congestion and enhancing urban mobility, which are expected to stimulate economic activity in Karachi. He reiterated the party’s dedication to restoring the city’s status as the “City of Lights,” contrasting it with the opposition’s rhetoric.

The spokesperson further detailed the PPP’s focus on Lyari’s development through initiatives in education, health, and infrastructure. The establishment of institutions like Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College Lyari has expanded educational opportunities. In the health sector, facilities at Lyari General Hospital and Sindh Government Hospital Lyari have been upgraded.

Infrastructure improvements under the Rs25 billion Lyari Transformation Program include the rehabilitation of roads and the installation of new water supply lines. These efforts align with the vision of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to integrate Lyari into Karachi’s broader development framework by addressing longstanding deprivation through sustained investment in essential services.