KARACHI [Pakistan], As the new financial year begins in Sindh, especially Karachi, a unique political scenario is emerging. With a political stake ruling both the province and the city, some are hopeful that Karachi's trajectory will change, given the alignment at all levels of government, Dow reported, adding that optimists expect increased budget allocations. , which aims to address long-term issues of the city. However, the challenges facing Karachi extend far beyond budgetary allocations for development projects, requiring a comprehensive examination, focusing on the three key areas of non-democratic decision-making processes, declining municipal service delivery capabilities and project- The focus has been on heavy reliance on sustainable development. Initiative. Allocation of budgetary funds alone cannot fix Karachi's multifaceted problems. Over the past two decades, the city has received substantial project funding.Yet, many of these projects have failed to deliver meaningful benefits to the people they were meant to serve. Residents of Karachi have often found themselves at the mercy of development decisions that were taken without proper consideration for their welfare. Consider the case of the Lyari Expressway, a transport project launched two decades ago. Despite significant delays and cost overruns, the project was eventually completed. However, its implementation wreaked havoc on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, causing them to be displaced to accommodate a relatively small number of vehicle operators. The project's execution was hampered by non-transparent practices and technical inadequacies, prompting investigations by federal entities.The exorbitant expenditure of over PKR 23 billion on the expressway and an additional PKR 1 billion on resettling evicted residents highlights the astonishing misallocation of resources that, as Don Sadley reports, leads to such enterprises. Lessons have not been learned. The recent launch of th Malir Expressway with a price tag of PKR 39 billion echoes the same faulty approach. Despite its huge cost, the project does not bring any improvement in the daily commute of ordinary Karachi residents. Instead, it primarily serves to increase connectivity to large-scale private real estate developments. Meanwhile, the essential needs of common commuters, such as upgrading public transportation options, are ignored.Instead of prioritizing grand infrastructure projects, Karachi's development agenda should focus on initiatives that will directly benefit residents. According to Don, upgrading public transport, regulating services and improving operational efficiency can be achieved at a fraction of the cost of expressways. Furthermore, Karachi suffers from a decline in urban service delivery, particularly sanitation. The acquisition of single waste management responsibilities by the Sindh administration, bypassing local bodies, has led to inefficiencies in waste disposal. Despite the presence of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB), concerns remain regarding poor maintenance practices and inadequate service delivery.Additionally, the proliferation of private health care facilities has exacerbated the problem, generating hazardous hospital waste, while substantial funding for various projects including the Karachi Water and Sanitation Improvement Program (KWSSIP) and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT Initiative) allocated, their impact on the daily lives of Karachi residents is limited, reports Dawn. High-expenditure projects often fail to provide meaningful relief to service users.