Businessmen demand urgent reforms

Businessmen Group chairman Zubair Motiwala has urged a coordinated effort to pull Karachi out of its civic and economic troubles, according to The Express Tribune. He asked why the city, which generates 67% of federal revenue and 54% of national exports, still faces poor roads, water scarcity, unstable utilities, weak sewerage and street crime. Speaking to leaders of commerce organisations and industrial associations in the city, he insisted on deadlines, accountability and measurable outcomes.

Motiwala linked the city's power and gas problems, weak infrastructure and low factory utilisation to rising production costs and reduced competitiveness. His list of demands included an early finish to K-IV, a fully working Safe City system, a Karachi Bypass that could move around 70% of heavy vehicles out of the city, and independent engineering audits. He also asked for transparent power bills, automatic compensation for service failures and faster tax refunds.

Vice Chairman Anjum Nisar asked trade bodies to shift from listing problems to drafting a shared action plan. He also proposed a documentary on corruption, extortion and excessive taxation, plus joint pre-budget consultations led by KCCI. Vice Chairman Jawed Bilwani urged the business community to focus on three or four priorities, including tougher steps on street crime and encroachment on public land.