Comedian and actor Tabish Hashmi has sparked conversation with a blunt — and characteristically sharp — take on Karachi’s governance, suggesting the city might be better off if it were “privatised” and handed over to the people who actually live in it.
Appearing on Geo’s talk show Report Card while discussing the recent Gul Plaza fire, Hashmi said Karachi should be run as a collective by its communities rather than the government, arguing that citizens could hardly do worse than the current state of affairs. RJ and host Anoushey Ashraf appeared to agree.
Drawing a parallel with state-owned institutions, Hashmi quipped that if the government could admit it failed to run PIA and opted for privatisation, it should consider doing the same with Karachi.
“Pathan, Baloch, Sindhi, Muhajir, Punjabi — everyone who lives here — we will buy Karachi together,” he said. “If this is the standard of running the city, we might actually do a better job. Even if we tried, we wouldn’t be able to do worse.”
The Hasna Mana Hai host grew visibly emotional while speaking about Gul Plaza — a place he said holds memories for almost every Karachiite. The shopping centre was gutted by a fire last week that claimed at least 61 lives.
“There probably isn’t a house in Karachi that doesn’t have something from Gul Plaza,” he said, lamenting how once-beloved spaces across the city have fallen into decay.
Hashmi also addressed calls from fans urging him to make videos highlighting Karachi’s problems, explaining why he usually refrains from doing so.
“If I make a video, I’m essentially telling the government or political parties what’s wrong,” he said. “If I have to explain these basics to people in power, then maybe they’re not meant to be there — they should already know.”
Questioning how such failures are still being discussed in 2026, he asked who was responsible for ensuring emergency exits, evacuation plans and safety systems at commercial buildings like Gul Plaza.
For Hashmi, simply claiming accountability is not enough. Referring to recent press conferences, he argued that repeated tragedies demand more than inquiries.
“Accountability isn’t just saying ‘I am accountable’,” he said. “If incidents keep happening under your watch, then resign.”
However, the comedian didn’t spare citizens either. He urged Karachiites to reflect on their own role in the city’s deterioration before placing all blame on authorities.
“Houses on stormwater drains — who built them? Citizens did. Encroaching alleyways, stealing electricity — stop it,” he said. “Fix your own actions first, then question the authorities with full liberty.”
RJ Anoushey Ashraf echoed Hashmi’s sentiments, sharing his clip on Instagram and calling Karachi “its own entity” that deserves care from everyone who calls it home.
“This city should be run and protected by Karachiites — whether Memon, Shia, Sunni, Hindu, Parsi, Punjabi, Sindhi or even French,” she wrote. “If you live here and aren’t actively trying to make it better, you can’t keep complaining.”
She ended her post with a pointed message: “In for an ‘all Karachi party’ — away from the mean and dismissive way the government treats us. Enough.”
As celebrities continue to voice frustration and propose bold — sometimes tongue-in-cheek — solutions, the question lingers: will these conversations finally lead to change, or will it take more tragedies for someone to truly take charge of Karachi’s fate?
