Sindh Government and Opposition Failing to Deliver on Manifestos: Report

Karachi: More than a year and two months have passed since the general elections in Pakistan, during which political parties including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) presented their manifestos promising solutions to public issues, particularly in Sindh. However, the PPP came into power in the province, and both the government and the opposition have reportedly fallen short in delivering on their pledges.
According to a report by Express, based on an analysis of party manifestos and the performance of Sindh Assembly members, parliamentary analysts believe the political leadership has not lived up to public expectations.
Dr. Nasreen Aslam Shah, former professor at the Department of Social Work at Karachi University, stated that overall performance of Sindh lawmakers does not appear satisfactory when evaluated against their electoral promises.
Senior parliamentary analyst Muneeruddin observed that the Supreme Court’s decision on reserved seats may soon alter the composition of the assembly, potentially increasing the number of PTI-backed lawmakers.
Another analyst, Abdul Jabbar Nasir, highlighted that Sindh Assembly members receive lower salaries compared to those in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. He emphasized the need for the ruling PPP to take more concrete steps to fulfill its manifesto promises, while urging the opposition to be more politically active in addressing public concerns.
Commenting on the situation, Muneeruddin added that manifestos once held significant value in past elections. However, public interest has drastically declined.
Ahmer Qureshi, a young electronics store salesman in Saddar, expressed apathy, saying the public has no interest in political manifestos or the performance of lawmakers. Ayesha Ali, a resident of Mujahid Colony, said that inflation has severely affected the monthly budgets of middle and lower-income families.
Waqar Mehdi, Special Assistant to the Sindh Chief Minister and PPP Sindh Secretary General, claimed that the party is working in line with its manifesto, focusing on economic reforms and resolving public issues.
Meanwhile, opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly and MQM-P leader Ali Khursheedi stated that their party’s manifesto includes district autonomy and income generation programs, and that MQM is actively pursuing public issues at both political and parliamentary levels.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Sindh Assembly member Muhammad Farooq mentioned that JI is actively addressing Karachi’s problems. PTI Karachi President Raja Azhar stated that PTI lawmakers are committed to playing their role across all platforms in line with the party’s manifesto.
Despite these claims, widespread public dissatisfaction with both government and opposition remains a pressing concern.