{
  "id": 17420978,
  "title": "Sindh CM Murad blames city planners for 'ruining' Karachi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/sindh-cm-murad-blames-city-planners-for-ruining-karachi-17420978",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T14:39:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2041198/sindh-cm-murad-blames-city-planners-for-ruining-karachi"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has blamed urban planners for the rapid deterioration of Karachi, stating that he witnessed the city's massive expansion and subsequent decline during his upbringing in the metropolis. In July 2025, a steering committee was informed that Karachi's comprehensive master plan for 2047 would be completed within two years. However, implementing the plan has proven challenging for consultants, master planners, and urban developers due to the city's deteriorated condition. The Sindh Master Plan Authority (SMPA), established in 1968, has completed 14 master plans for Sindh's cities, with work on 14 others nearing completion. Murad emphasized that no other city in the world has expanded as quickly as Karachi or been ruined by planners as rapidly. He lamented that during the 2020 severe rains, he observed people setting up shops along side roads and stormwater drains, despite the planners' good work. The chief minister appealed for collaboration from all stakeholders to address the issue, stressing that without collective efforts, improvement will remain elusive. Murad also highlighted delays in development work caused by utility service providers, including the water board, and the absence of infrastructure mapping, which hinders urban development progress. Despite arranging funds for reworking 143 roads, procurement issues have delayed the commencement of the project. Nonetheless, Murad underlined the importance of SMPA forums for urban planning and implementation, noting that the mayors and divisional headquarters in other cities are emulating Karachi's development.",
  "summary": "Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Saturday blamed urban planners for “ruining” Karachi, adding that he saw the metropolis vastly expand and deteriorate firsthand while growing up in it. In July 2025, a steering committee tasked with developing the Greater Karachi Regional Plan 2047 was informed that the new master plan of the country’s commercial capital would be ready within two years.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}