The digging was undertaken one day before Ramazan and there are no signs of any quick follow-up.
KARACHI: While many consider Defence to be a ‘posh’ residential area in Karachi, the picture is quite different for the people residing here. The utter callousness and disregard of the Cantonment Board for the residents is clear by the mess that is also called Khayaban-e-Shujaat.
The main artery linking the DHA to Clifton has been dug up with stones and debris on the thoroughfare, reducing it to single-lane traffic on both sides. The digging was undertaken one day before Ramazan and there are no signs of any quick follow-up. The dust and chaos created for the residents and traffic does not seem to matter to authorities at all.
The second major problem being faced by residents of Defence is a major water shortage. Despite paying an annual water tax, residents are forced to buy tankers as water is not released, sometimes up to three weeks at a time. The free water bowsers are for those who have clout, while residents must suffer the double burden of water taxes and tankers.
The apathy shown by the authorities for the plight of the residents is disgraceful considering the heavy amount of charges collected by the Cantonment Board on an annual basis. Will the Board ever wake up to fulfil its responsibilities?
Imtiaz Yusaf
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2014.
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