Karachi is Pakistan’s largest city, its financial hub, and the beating heart of the nation’s economy. With more than 20 million residents, it is often described as a city that never sleeps. Yet, for those who live here, survival is not easy. Karachiites wake up each day to a list of challenges that range from political chaos to failing infrastructure, rampant street crime, and a lack of basic services.
Politics Without Progress
Karachi’s problems often start with politics. For decades, the city has been caught between competing parties, each promising reforms but delivering little. From disputes over local government control to turf wars between political groups, the city’s governance is a patchwork of inefficiency. Decisions about water, garbage collection, and public transport are often delayed, leaving ordinary citizens to suffer.
The absence of a strong local government system has meant that Karachi rarely gets the attention it deserves, despite contributing more than half of Pakistan’s tax revenue. For many, the city’s neglect feels deliberate — a political battleground rather than a place to serve citizens.
Crumbling Infrastructure
The streets of Karachi tell their own story. Broken roads, overflowing sewage lines, and piles of uncollected garbage are everyday sights. During the monsoon, neighborhoods turn into lakes, with rainwater mixing with sewage and spreading disease. Drainage systems are decades old, while new projects, when started, are often left incomplete.
Public transport is another nightmare. Buses are overcrowded and unsafe, while the much-promised mass transit solutions rarely move beyond political announcements. For a city of millions, moving from one part of Karachi to another is both time-consuming and exhausting.
The Shadow of Street Crime
Perhaps the most immediate threat Karachiites face is street crime. Armed robberies are so common that carrying a smartphone in public feels like a risk. Citizens are regularly looted of cash, phones, and vehicles, often in broad daylight. The fear of being robbed has become part of everyday psychology; people avoid using their phones while driving, keep minimal cash on hand, and remain alert even on short trips to the market.
Police presence offers little reassurance. Many crimes go unreported, as citizens see little hope of recovery or justice. Instead, Karachiites adapt by developing survival instincts — learning which streets to avoid, which areas are hotspots, and how to respond if confronted by an armed criminal.
Shortages and Daily Struggles
Beyond crime and politics, basic services are a daily battle. Water shortages force families to rely on expensive tanker mafias, while electricity breakdowns and load shedding add another layer of hardship. Healthcare facilities are overburdened, with government hospitals struggling to meet demand and private hospitals charging fees out of reach for most.
For students and workers, commuting is another ordeal. Endless traffic jams, fueled by poor road planning and unchecked encroachments, eat away hours of productivity. Noise, pollution, and a lack of green spaces add to the stress of urban living.
Resilience in Chaos
Yet despite all this, Karachi lives on. Its people have developed a unique resilience, finding ways to survive and even thrive in the chaos. The city’s food culture, art scene, and entrepreneurial spirit remain unmatched. Every challenge seems to be met with creativity, whether it is through community organizations cleaning streets, startups offering ride-sharing alternatives, or ordinary citizens raising their voices on social media.
Karachi is not an easy city to live in. It tests patience, resilience, and sometimes even faith. But for those who call it home, it is also a city of opportunity — a place where hardship and hope coexist. Surviving Karachi may be a struggle, but it is also a badge of honor.
