Wasim Akhtar Says Pakistan’s Governance System Has Been Failing for 25 Years

KARACHI: Former Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar has said that Pakistan’s governance system has been in decline for the past 25 years, arguing that recent remarks by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi merely acknowledged a reality that had long existed.

Speaking at a public event, Wasim Akhtar criticized the country’s two major political parties, describing them as “failed and corrupt” and accusing them of playing a significant role in weakening the country’s governance structure.

He said that he has been highlighting the shortcomings of the current system for decades and maintained that the creation of new provinces has become essential for improving governance and administrative efficiency.

Referring to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Akhtar said that during a meeting, Imran Khan had expressed his desire to strengthen the local government system by transferring development funds allocated to members of the National and Provincial Assemblies to local governments. However, according to Akhtar, the plan was never implemented.

The former mayor said he had consistently advocated for stronger local governments during his four-year tenure but saw little progress. He added that successive governments had made promises regarding local government reforms without delivering meaningful change.

Wasim Akhtar also claimed that Karachi and Sindh have suffered significantly under the existing system, alleging that the city’s residents have been repeatedly neglected. He argued that the current governance model has failed and reiterated that establishing new provinces is a necessary step toward achieving better governance and more effective public administration.