Sharmila Faruqui Stands by Karachi Comparison, Points to France and New York Urban Failures as Global Examples

Sharmila Faruqui Stands by Karachi Comparison, Points to France and New York Urban Failures as Global Examples

Pakistan Peoples Party politician Sharmila Faruqui has once again found herself at the center of a national conversation after making a fresh statement comparing the urban challenges faced by Karachi with those experienced by major developed cities around the world, including France and New York.

Sharmila Faruqui is a prominent PPP politician from a well-established political family with deep roots in the party’s leadership and ideology. Her political career has consistently focused on urban development, women’s empowerment, and public welfare initiatives in Karachi. She is married to businessman Hashaam Riaz Sheikh, and the couple has a son.

The controversy began several months ago when Sharmila Faruqui compared Karachi to Paris during an appearance on Wasim Badami’s television show — a statement that sparked massive public backlash and widespread criticism across social media and political circles alike.

Now, in her latest statement, Faruqui has doubled down on her position by citing real-world examples of how even the most developed and well-resourced cities in the world continue to face serious urban problems similar to those in Karachi.

Addressing the comparison directly, she said, “Look at how hot it is in France right now. Forty people went swimming and drowned. It’s such a big city, and they went to unregulated areas and drowned. Now, God forbid, if such an incident had happened in Karachi, people would have demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister. But these issues happen in every big, developed city.”

The PPP politician also drew on her personal experience in the United States to further strengthen her argument. “Last year, I was in New York. It rained so heavily that we couldn’t leave the hotel for two days. It’s a major city with a proper drainage system, yet they still faced issues.”

Rather than dismissing Karachi’s problems entirely, Faruqui concluded her statement on a constructive and self-reflective note, acknowledging the city’s shortcomings while calling for a balanced and forward-looking approach. “Problems do happen. Let’s own them, acknowledge that there are shortcomings here, and recognize that improvements can be made — and should be made.”

Her latest remarks have reignited the debate around urban governance in Karachi, with supporters praising her balanced perspective and critics arguing that comparing Pakistan’s largest city to Paris or New York remains unrealistic given the vast differences in infrastructure, governance, and resources. The statement continues to generate significant public discussion across Pakistani news and social media platforms.