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Comedian and actor Tabish Hashmi wants Karachi’s management to be privatised and handed over to the citizens of this city, because even if they try, the standard can’t be worse than it already is — and RJ Anoushey Ashraf agrees.

While analysing the Gul Plaza fire on a Geo talkshow, Report Card, an exasperated Hashmi said the city should be run as a unified power by communities residing in Karachi instead of the government.

“The way the government realised that they can’t run PIA and privatised it, please privatise Karachi the same way. We Karachiites, Pathan, Baloch, Sindhi, Muhajirs, all Punjabis that are here, we will buy Karachi together. If this is the criterion and standard of running Karachi, then we will do it. We might even run it better, because even despite trying, we won’t be able to do a worse job than this.”

During the show, the actor spoke about various spaces that hold significance in the hearts and memories of many Karachiites, spaces that are now in ruins. One of those places is Gul Plaza.

“There likely isn’t a house in Karachi that doesn’t have items from Gul Plaza in it,” he said about the shopping mall struck by a devastating fire last week, killing 61 people.

He said people keep reaching out to him to make videos about the persistent issues of Karachi, but he never does because it is not his job to tell people in positions of power what’s wrong with the city.

“When I make a video of course, I would be addressing the government or various political parties. But if I am telling these people about such big issues, then maybe this job is not for them, because they should already know what is wrong.

“Having these conversations in 2026, that there were no exits [at Gul Plaza], there was no proper system to evacuate, who is supposed to ensure that?” he asked.

For the Hasna Mana Hai host, only taking accountability is not the correct response to a situation this devastating. Incidents like this, he said, were not isolated ones. He spoke of a number of incidents — such as various buildings catching fire and children being killed by speeding trucks — and suggested mass resignations by those in power, and Karachiites taking over instead.

“I saw the chief minister’s press conference, where he accepted that he is accountable, and said he will conduct an inquiry. Accountability doesn’t happen by just saying ‘I am accountable’,” the enraged comedian stated.

“Accountability is a process […] if there are constant incidents taking place under you, then just resign.”

Hashmi also asked Karachiites to look inwards and focus on doing their part first to keep the city intact, so that they truly have the liberty to blame the authorities when things go wrong.

“I also want to be introspective as a citizen of Karachi. […] There are houses built on stormwater drains. Why? Why have you made them? Expanding land into alleyways, who has done it? Citizens have done it. Why have you expanded them? Make them smaller! Remove your houses from these drains. Stop stealing electricity. Then ask questions with full liberty,” he said.

RJ and host Ashraf agreed. Sharing Hashmi’s clip on Instagram, she said Karachi is its own entity.

“It should be run and ruled and cared for by ‘Karachiites’ whether they are Memon, Shia, Sunni, Hindu, Parsi, Punjabi, Sindhi or French. If you made this city your home, you cannot complain if you aren’t actively trying to make it better,” she said, echoing Hashmi’s statement.

“In for ‘all Karachi party’ away from the mean and insulting ways the government treats us. Enough,” she wrote in an Instagram story.

While celebrities come up with various solutions to fix the situation of this city, the larger question remains: is this it, or will it take many more tragedies for someone to take charge?