Final Year Project

Project Title

The Fragmented City: Power, Politics, and the Making of Governance Dysfunction in Karachi

Description

This research examines how institutional fragmentation affects urban governance in Karachi, where roughly 17–20 federal, provincial, and local agencies share authority without effective coordination. Using nine qualitative interviews with municipal officials, scholars, and policy experts, alongside analysis of legislative documents, the study explores how fragmented governance shapes service delivery and accountability. It finds that fragmentation is not merely administrative but politically sustained, dispersing responsibility while concentrating power at higher levels. Comparing the Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001 with the Sindh Local Government Act 2013 shows how political contestation drives cycles of reform. The study highlights how overlapping mandates and weak coordination contribute to failures in water supply, waste management, and drainage.