Shahid Afridi has always had a complicated relationship with Karachi, the city of his origins and the one he eventually left behind. He now lives in Islamabad with his family, a decision he has attributed to the worsening state of roads and cleanliness in the city. But a recent visit to Karachi, his first in several months, brought those feelings rushing back with full force, and he did not hold them in. In a video shared on social media following his visit, Afridi spoke directly to his followers about what he saw during a trip to the Korangi area, and his disappointment was palpable from the very first word. “Day before yesterday, I was visiting the Korangi area,” he said. “Friends, I don’t understand this. We give you billions of rupees’ business and this city provides millions of jobs, but I feel embarrassed seeing the condition of Karachi.” He then described the particular disillusionment that comes from returning to a place with hope, only to find it unchanged. “I came to Karachi after years, thinking there must have been some construction work or development, but it is still the same. It disappoints me.” He named specific areas to illustrate his point, places that residents have long complained about and that appear to have remained in a state of perpetual half-construction. “The areas around Korangi, the side area, university road have been under construction for years,” he said. “The city needs a lot of development, and the authorities need to work on it. Please do something. I hope Karachi gets better.” The appeal was genuine and the frustration behind it real, coming from a man who grew up in the city and clearly retains a deep affection for it even in its current condition. The contrast between Karachi’s economic significance and the state of its infrastructure is one that has been raised by residents, civic activists and public figures for years. Afridi’s remarks gave fresh voice to that long-running complaint. The public reaction, however, was not entirely sympathetic. While some supporters agreed with the substance of his concerns, many commenters pointed to what they saw as a glaring contradiction. Afridi has been vocal in his political commentary and has aligned himself publicly with certain political figures and parties over the years. For many Karachiites, the individuals and systems he has supported are the very ones responsible for the neglect he was now condemning. The criticism was pointed: it is easier to express disappointment from Islamabad than to have consistently held accountable those who could have made a difference. The response reflects a broader frustration that many Pakistanis feel when public figures with platform and influence choose to react rather than act. Shahid Afridi’s concern for Karachi appears genuine. Whether that concern translates into sustained accountability for those in power over the city’s administration is the question his critics were loudly putting back to him.
