Karachi remains neglected after rains

Overflowing sewers, dilapidated roads, open manholes reveal inefficiency of municipal bodies

KARACHI:

Cleanliness and maintenance work has not yet begun on Karachi's major and busiest roads although several days have passed after recent rains. Streets behind important arteries including M.A. Jinnah Road remain damaged, with open manholes, scattered dirty water, mud, and heaps of garbage, revealing the inefficiency of municipal authorities. Residents have appealed to the municipal authorities for urgent road repairs and restoration of the sewerage system.

Following the recent rains, city's infrastructure has suffered significant damage. Many streets and alleys on M.A. Jinnah Road have turned into ruins due to sewage water. Whether it's the main roads or internal streets, the condition is dire. Sewers are overflowing.

Behind M.A. Jinnah Road, institutions like the Institute of Business Administration, several well-known private schools, City Mall, Gul Tajara Market, Gul Plaza, and various other shopping malls and important commercial centres, as well as offices, have almost no functional sewage system. Due to sludge and filth, it's almost impossible for pedestrians to walk. Residents told The Express Tribune that the sewage system has been dysfunctional for four months. Accidents have become common. Motorcyclists can't see open sewers due to accumulated water, causing vehicles and bikes to get stuck. Open sewers are everywhere, turning the area into a dump. Stagnant sewage water has created a foul smell and spread diseases.

Traffic flow has also been affected, with journeys taking an hour-and-a-half instead of half an hour. Residents have demanded of the municipal authorities to take measures and make streets usable again.

Jamaat-e-Islami

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar has said Pakistan People Party government in Sindh has been deceiving the people for the past 16 years.

Addressing a press conference at the badly affected University Road on Sunday, he said after the recent rains in the city, it seems that the government constructs roads made up of paper that dissolve in water after rains.

On the occasion, he highlighted the mismanagement and misuse of funds by the PPP regime, particularly in the Red Line Project. He said the Red Line Project was finalised in 2019 and it had to be established on one of the very important arteries in Karachi - the University Road.

The project that had to be completed in December 2023 but it would now be materialised in 2026, he said while highlighting the mismanagement on part of the government.

Talking about the financial aspect of the project, he said that the cost of the project was 504 million US dollar. He added that multiple banks; Asian Infrastructure Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Green Climate Fund took part in the financing of the project.