Editing Karachi (section)

==Civic administration==

{{Main|Politics of Karachi|List of mayors of Karachi|List of Union Councils of Karachi|Commissioner of Karachi}}

===City government===

{{Main|Government of Karachi}}

Karachi has a fragmented system of civic government. The urban area is divided into six District Municipal Corporations: [[Karachi East District|Karachi East]], [[Karachi West District|Karachi West]], [[Karachi Central District|Karachi Central]], [[Karachi South District|Karachi South]], [[Malir District|Malir]], [[Korangi District|Korangi.]] Each district is further divided into between 22 and 42 Union Committees. Each Union Committee is represented by seven elected representatives, four of whom can be general candidates of any background; the other three seats are reserved for women, religious minorities, and a union representative or peasant farmer.

Karachi's urban area also includes six [[Cantonment (Pakistan)|cantonments]], which are administered directly by the [[Pakistan Armed Forces|Pakistani military]], and include some of Karachi's most desirable real-estate.

Key civic bodies, such as the [[Karachi Water and Sewerage Board]] and KBCA (Karachi Building Control Authority), among others, are under the direct control of the [[Government of Sindh]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1225311 |title=Sindh govt takes away key municipal function from local bodies |last=Azfar-ul-Ashfaque |date=10 December 2015 |website=Dawn |location=Pakistan |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406234255/https://www.dawn.com/news/1225311 |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, Karachi's city-planning authority for undeveloped land, the [[Karachi Development Authority]], is under control of the government, while two new city-planning authorities, the [[Lyari Development Authority]] and [[Malir Development Authority]] were revived by the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] government in 2011{{snd}}allegedly to patronize their electoral allies and voting banks.<ref name="Hasan" />

====Historical background====

In response to a cholera epidemic in 1846, the [[Karachi Conservancy Board]] was organized by British administrators to control its spread.<ref name=cdgkhistory>{{cite web |url=http://221.132.118.186/cdgk/Home/Government/CDGKHistory/tabid/276/Default.aspx |title=CDGK History |publisher=City-District Government of Karachi |access-date=24 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417020709/http://221.132.118.186/cdgk/Home/Government/CDGKHistory/tabid/276/Default.aspx |archive-date=17 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Culture, Religion and Lifestyle in Karachi |website=Karachi History |date=14 August 2001 |url=http://www.karachi.com/v/history/ |access-date=5 August 2017 |archive-date=6 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806020334/http://www.karachi.com/v/history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The board became the Karachi Municipal Commission in 1852, and the [[Karachi Municipal Committee]] the following year.<ref name=cdgkhistory /> The City of Karachi Municipal Act of 1933 transformed the city administration into the [[Karachi Municipal Corporation]] with a mayor, a deputy mayor and 57 councillors.<ref name=cdgkhistory /> In 1976, the body became the [[Karachi Metropolitan Corporation]].<ref name=cdgkhistory />

During the 1900s, Karachi saw its major beautification project under the mayoralty of [[Harchandrai Vishandas]]. New roads, parks, residential, and recreational areas were developed as part of this project. In 1948, the [[Federal Capital Territory (Pakistan)|Federal Capital Territory]] of Pakistan was created, comprising approximately {{cvt|2103|km2}} of Karachi and surrounding areas, but this was merged into the province of [[West Pakistan]] in 1959.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statoids.com/upk.html |title=Pakistan Provinces |publisher=Statoids.com |access-date=24 August 2010 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729165316/http://www.statoids.com/upk.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1960, Karachi and Lasbela District merged to create Karachi-Bela Division. In 1972, [[Lasbela District]] transferred to [[Kalat Division|Kalat division]] and [[Karachi Metropolitan Corporation|Karachi metropolitan]] area was divided into three (03) districts [[Karachi East District|East]], [[Karachi West District|West]] and [[Karachi South District|South]]. In 1996, again the [[Karachi Metropolitan Corporation|Karachi metropolitan]] area was divided into More two (02) districts [[Karachi Central District|Central]] and [[Malir District|Malir]], each with its own municipal corporation.<ref name=cdgkhistory />

====Union councils (2001–11)====
[[File:Naimatullah Khan (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Given the honorary title "Father of Service", [[Naimatullah Khan]] Advocate (2001–2005) was one of the most successful and respected mayors Karachi ever had.]]
In 2001, during the rule of [[Pervez Musharraf|General Pervez Musharraf]], five districts of Karachi were merged to form the city district of Karachi, with a three-tier structure. The two most local tiers are composed of 18 [[Tehsil|towns]], and 178 [[Union councils of Pakistan|union councils]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://221.132.118.186/cdgk/Home/Towns/tabid/72/Default.aspx |title=CDGK Towns |publisher=City District Government of Karachi |access-date=24 August 2010}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Each tier focused on elected councils with some common members to provide "vertical linkage" within the federation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nrb.gov.pk/local_government/default.asp |title=Local Government |publisher=National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan |access-date=24 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125014524/http://nrb.gov.pk/local_government/default.asp |archive-date=25 January 2009}}</ref>

[[Naimatullah Khan]] was the first Nazim of Karachi during the Union Council period, while Shafiq-Ur-Rehman Paracha was the first district coordination officer of Karachi. [[Syed Mustafa Kamal]] was elected City Nazim of Karachi to succeed Naimatullah Khan in 2005 elections, and [[Nasreen Jalil]] was elected as the City Naib Nazim.

Each Union Council had thirteen members elected from specified electorates: four men and two women elected directly by the general population; two men and two women elected by peasants and workers; one member for minority communities; two members are elected jointly as the Union Mayor (''Nazim'') and Deputy Union Mayor (''Naib Nazim'').<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nrb.gov.pk/local_government/union_admin_07.htm |title=Composition of the Union Council |publisher=National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan |access-date=24 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803101846/http://www.nrb.gov.pk/local_government/union_admin_07.htm |archive-date=3 August 2011}}</ref> Each council included up to three council secretaries and a number of other civil servants. The Union Council system was dismantled in 2011.

====District Municipal Corporations (2011–present)====

In July 2011, city district government of Karachi was reverted its original constituent units known as District Municipal Corporations (DMC). The five original DMCs are: [[Karachi East District|Karachi East]], [[Karachi West District|Karachi West]], [[Karachi Central District|Karachi Central]], [[Karachi South District|Karachi South]] and [[Malir District|Malir]]. In November 2013, a sixth DMC, [[Korangi District]] was carved out from District East.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1054395 |title=Korangi notified as sixth district of Karachi |first=Hasan |last=Mansoor |date=6 November 2013 |website=DAWN.COM |access-date=6 May 2014 |archive-date=6 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506112833/http://www.dawn.com/news/1054395 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/378585-former-un-staffer-being-tipped-as-pm-s-focal-person-for-polio |title=Former UN staffer being tipped as PM's focal person for polio |website=www.thenews.com.pk |access-date=30 April 2020 |archive-date=2 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802203309/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/378585-former-un-staffer-being-tipped-as-pm-s-focal-person-for-polio |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/07/11/sindh-back-to-5-divisions-after-11-years/ |title=Sindh back to 5 divisions after 11 years – Pakistan Today |website=www.pakistantoday.com.pk |access-date=30 April 2020 |archive-date=14 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714061324/https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/07/11/sindh-back-to-5-divisions-after-11-years/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Aligi |first=Irfan |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/208342/changing-hands-karachi-split-into-5-districts/ |title=Changing hands: Karachi split into 5 districts |website=The Express Tribune |date=12 July 2011 |access-date=10 February 2014 |archive-date=17 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117074148/http://tribune.com.pk/story/208342/changing-hands-karachi-split-into-5-districts/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://kmc.gov.pk.sv2.premiumwebserver.com/ |title=Welcome to official website of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation |publisher=Kmc.gov.pk.sv2.premiumwebserver.com |access-date=10 February 2014 |archive-date=30 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234919/http://kmc.gov.pk.sv2.premiumwebserver.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2020, Sindh cabinet approves formation of the seventh district in Karachi (Keamari District), Keamari District was formed by splitting District West.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1575785/new-district-in-karachi, |title=New district in Karachi |date=22 August 2020 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828142224/https://www.dawn.com/news/1575785/new-district-in-karachi, |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samaa.tv/news/2020/08/karachi-fits-seventh-district-into-its-mix-keamari/, |title=Karachi fits seventh district into its mix – Keamari}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/703699-kemari-becomes-karachi-s-seventh-district, |title=Kemari becomes Karachi's seventh district |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828142224/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/703699-kemari-becomes-karachi-s-seventh-district, |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pressreader.com/bahrain/gulf-today/20200822/281779926499237, |title=Keamari is now 7th district of Karachi city}}</ref>

The committees for each district devise and enforce land-use and zoning regulations within their district. Each committee also manages water supply, sewage, and roads (except for 28 main arteries, which are managed by the [[Karachi Metropolitan Corporation]]).<ref name="shehri.org-2018" /> Street lighting, traffic planning, markets regulations, and signage are also under the control of the DMCs. Each DMC also maintains its own municipal record archive, and devises its own local budget.<ref name="shehri.org-2018" />

Municipal Administration of Karachi is also run by the [[Karachi Metropolitan Corporation]] (KMC), which is responsible for the development and maintenance of main arteries, bridges, drains, several hospitals, beaches, solid waste management, as well as some parks, and the city's firefighting services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KMC Function |url=http://www.kmc.gos.pk/Contents.aspx?id=133 |website=www.kmc.gos.pk |access-date=5 May 2020 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501220454/http://www.kmc.gos.pk/Contents.aspx?id=133 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Between 2016 and 2020 the mayor of Karachi was [[Waseem Akhtar]] (2016-2020), with Arshad Hassan serving as Deputy Mayor; both served as part of the KMC. The Administrator of Karachi is Syed Saif-ur-Rehman as of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Metropolitan Commissioner |url=http://www.kmc.gos.pk/Contents.aspx?id=54 |website=www.kmc.gos.pk |access-date=5 May 2020 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501220554/http://www.kmc.gos.pk/Contents.aspx?id=54 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2023, [[Murtaza Wahab]] of [[Pakistan People's Party|PPP]] was elected the [[Mayor of Karachi|mayor]] of Karachi.<ref name="dawn"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 June 2023 |title=JI rejects Karachi mayor election results, announces 'black day' on Friday |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40247971 |access-date=15 June 2023 |website=Brecorder |archive-date=15 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615123444/https://www.brecorder.com/news/40247971 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The position of [[Commissioner of Karachi]] was created, with Iftikhar Ali Shallwani serving this role.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet-Commissioner Karachi Division |website=commissionerkarachi.gos.pk |url=https://commissionerkarachi.gos.pk/meetcommissioner.html |access-date=5 May 2020 |archive-date=5 May 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505003051/http://www.commissionerkarachi.gos.pk/meetcommissioner.html}}</ref> There are six [[Cantonments (Pakistan)|military cantonments]], which are administered by the [[Pakistani Army]], and are some of Karachi's most upscale neighbourhoods.
{{Town and cantonment wise map of Karachi}}

===City planning===

The [[Karachi Development Authority]] (KDA), along with the [[Lyari Development Authority]] (LDA) and [[Malir Development Authority]] (MDA), is responsible for the development of most undeveloped land around Karachi. KDA came into existence in 1957 with the task of managing land around Karachi, while the LDA and MDA were formed in 1993 and 1994, respectively. KDA under the control of Karachi's local government and mayor in 2001, while the LDA and MDA were abolished. KDA was later placed under the direct control of the [[Government of Sindh]] in 2011. The LDA and MDA were also revived by the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] government at the time, allegedly to patronize their electoral allies and voting banks.<ref name="Hasan">{{Cite journal |last=Hasan |first=Arif |title=Land ownership, control and contestation in Karachi and implications for low-income housing |url=https://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/10625IIED.pdf |journal=International Institute for Environment and Development United Nations Population Fund |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803054815/https://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/10625IIED.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> City-planning in Karachi, therefore, is not locally directed but is instead controlled at the provincial level.

Each District Municipal Corporation regulate land-use in developed areas, while the Sindh Building Control Authority ensures that building construction is in accordance with building & town planning regulations. Cantonment areas, and the [[Defence Housing Authority, Karachi|Defence Housing Authority]] are administered and planned by the military.