As any Karachi person will tell you, this city is run by multiple civic agencies with different jurisdictions. This is something that Mustafa Kamal made a regular fuss about when he was mayor. I only control 30% of Karachi, he used to say.

And indeed, Karachi does have at least 11 land-owning agencies which operate their own turf. The ones you will be most familiar with are KMC and the cantonments. Cantonment Board Clifton, for example, oversees Defence Housing Authority or DHA. And as KMC will be quick to point out, it isn’t responsible for anything that happens in DHA.

This is why it appears that DHA got considerably miffed when a top Sindh government name claimed to be working in its area.

A PPP fan called @JUNEJOAKHTAR4 tweeted a video of Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon asking what work was being done. Memon said that KMC and PDMA vehicles were working wherever water had flooded in the city. He turned and pointed to a vehicle behind him, saying that they working in DHA as well.

In all areas of Karachi dewatering Pumping machines of KMC & PDMA are working, CM Sindh with cabinet visiting different areas inquiring the dewatering proces, information & Transport Minister @sharjeelinam right now at DHA making all possibilities to clear roads@BBhuttoZardari pic.twitter.com/aW0hFwB2zM

— JUNEJO AKHTAR (@JUNEJOAKHTAR4) July 24, 2022

It appears, however, that DHA did not agree with Memon’s characterization of the situation. It tweeted a response from its official handle @DHAKarachiOfc: “Sir, please avoid spreading misinformation regarding De Watering activity in DHA by Mr Sharjeel Inam. No such De Watering effort took place by him in DHA Karachi. DHA Karachi and Cantt Board Clifton (CBC) are making joint De Watering efforts in DHA.”