KARACHI: Former Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Shabbar Zaidi, has claimed that Karachi’s DHA Phase 8 surpasses global hubs like Paris and Dubai in terms of quality and lifestyle. In a conversation with Faisal Hussain, Bureau Chief of Express News Karachi, on the Powercast program, Zaidi backed PPP leader Sharmila Faruqui’s recent controversial comparison of Karachi to the French capital.
DHA Phase 8 vs the World
Zaidi highlighted that the commercial areas, restaurants, and overall vibe of DHA Phase 8 are of a higher standard than what is seen in Dubai. He remarked that the markets, the crowd, and the high-end vehicles in Phase 8 are superior. Although he lives in Phase 6, he admitted that every time he visits Phase 8, he is left in awe, suggesting that if one visits at 3:00 AM, they wouldn’t believe it is part of the same Karachi. To those skeptical of his comparison, the former FBR chief suggested looking back at what Dubai was 40 years ago, implying that rapid transformation is always possible.
The Future of Zulfikarabad
Zaidi also spoke about the development of Zulfikarabad, a proposed mega-city project near Port Qasim. He claimed that once completed, it would make people forget Dubai. When the host reminded him that the project was announced by Asif Ali Zardari back in 2008 but remains stalled, Zaidi blamed internal opposition. He stated that the very people who sabotaged the project back then are now residing in Dubai, adding that once this cycle of disruption ends, Zulfikarabad will finally flourish.
Background of the Comparison
The debate started when PPP’s Sharmila Faruqui termed Karachi as “Paris” during a recent TV appearance, drawing heavy criticism on social media. She later clarified her stance, stating that as her home, Karachi is “better than Paris” to her, and its beaches are incomparable to any in the world.
