Not straying from the philosophy of “jab ziada barish hota hai to ziada paani aata hai,” but if there’s been no rain for the past couple of days and yet half the roads in the city are still flooded with stranded water, while the other half can hardly be called roads, it speaks volumes about the city’s and the provincial administration’s capabilities. These shortcomings are exposed every single year, and to our despair, we move on each time. But till when? That’s the question. The urgency of addressing these issues must be felt.
As Cyclone Asna made its way to the City of Lights, Karachi received over 200mm of rainfall during the five-day spell that began on August 27, 2024. This city has always been under the threat of devastation from Arabian Sea cyclones—whether it be last year’s Biparjoy or the infamous Nilofar of 2014. The absolute havoc has always resulted due to the lamentable state of the roads and infrastructure that citizens have to endure after the rain. Due to water accumulation; multiple potholes, uneven surfaces, and roads with zero visibility have become the norm. At one point in 13-D Gulshan-e-Iqbal, I even saw four ducks swimming in the middle of the road. Although it made me laugh, it also shook me to my core. This impact on our daily lives is profound and personal. I tried to convince myself, “This isn’t a main road; surely the rest of the city is in better condition,” but then I reached Jail Chowrangi to Khalid Bin Waleed Road, where the number of bumps was unimaginable—and yes, that’s one of the busiest roads in the city.
But how can a city, that has historically received Rs. 10-20 billion in grants, not have seen a single visible improvement in the last decade? The truth lies in the pockets of the local government and the contractors who fall prey to the vicious cycle of corruption and kickbacks.
The nexus between government officers and contractors, aimed at looting public money, is widespread throughout the country. Officers at every level are involved in corruption, particularly in government “road and street construction” contracts. The blue-eyed contractors always receive lucrative contracts, and if a proper investigation were to be conducted, their political affiliations would quickly be exposed. This is because it’s not just the officers; the ministers of the concerned departments also take their fair share of the spoils. The need for transparency and accountability in these processes cannot be overstated. These principles are not just important, they are crucial in governance.
There are about 200 ADP (Annual Development Program) schemes for road infrastructure in Karachi, according to officials of the KMC (Karachi Metropolitan Corporation). KMC spent a maximum amount of Rs 1,500 million on its road-related projects, from the cataclysmic flood of 2022 to date. Rs 4,000 million is needed to renovate or repair the different crumbling roads falling under the jurisdiction of the KMC. The fact is that no installment of the budget, which is Rs 3.6 billion per annum, has so far been released to the KMC for fiscal year 2023-2024. Budgets are issued quarterly in four installments. With funds being disbursed quarterly, this delay in budgets severely hampers the ability of the Government of Sindh to undertake large-scale road projects, forcing them to rely on meager earnings for small-scale projects. This not only limits the scope of the work that can be done but also raises questions about the efficiency and prioritization of budget allotments. This ongoing struggle to secure necessary funds underlines a bigger issue of governance and resource management that continues to plague the city’s infrastructure development process. Nevertheless, one can only hope for a utopian state where the taxes collected and the budget allocated are actually spent on the people rather than serving those in the red zone.
It is also important to note that a comprehensive road condition survey is needed to identify defects and plan a phased rehabilitation program. This survey should be conducted by an independent body to ensure transparency and accuracy. Collapsed sewerage systems, faulty solid waste management, poor construction materials, increased vehicular traffic, defective road design, and deteriorating drainage systems are the main issues contributing to inadequate infrastructure. These issues can be addressed through strict quality control measures, regular maintenance, urban development, and most importantly, public oversight of government spending. The citizens of Pakistan must take an active role in monitoring and demanding accountability for how their tax money is being spent. Until then, people with gallstones might as well visit deteriorated road sites of the metropolis for a free “surgery”—courtesy of a bumpy ride.
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Muhammad Karam is a Civil Engineering graduate from NED University of Engineering and Technology (NEDUET) with a keen interest in the socio-political affairs of the world.