Severe road subsidences on major thoroughfares, including Jinnah Avenue and Tariq Road, have caused significant traffic disruption, stranding vehicles and prompting an emergency inspection by Sindh Minister for Local Government, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, on Wednesday.
Accompanied by key officials, including the Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Sindh Najmi Alam and the DG KDA, the minister today conducted a detailed tour of several key arteries such as Malir Halt, University Road, and Kashmir Road to assess the state of ongoing development schemes and the deteriorating condition of the city”s infrastructure following recent rains.
During a briefing at the affected sites, officials informed the minister that the road collapses were attributable to delayed rainwater drainage and fragile subterranean infrastructure. They confirmed that emergency repair work had been initiated to restore the flow of traffic.
Mr. Shah took strict notice of the situation, directing officials to ensure the immediate rehabilitation of the damaged roads. He stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy to avert future occurrences, calling for accelerated improvements to the city’s drainage system and the development of alternative water disposal routes.
The ministerial delegation also received a detailed briefing from the DG KDA on the status of various mega-projects, including the Malir Halt underpass. Officials reported that the schemes are in various phases of completion, with work on some being expedited to provide prompt relief to the public.
While inspecting the repair work on Tariq Road, the minister issued clear directives against compromising on quality, insisting that modern engineering standards must be applied for a permanent solution. He advocated for sustainable, long-term planning over temporary repairs to resolve the recurring problem of road deterioration.
The Provincial Minister emphasised that transparency and timely completion are mandatory for all development projects and warned that negligence or delays would not be tolerated. He stated that improving the infrastructure of Karachi, the nation’s economic hub, is a top government priority and all available resources are being utilised to provide better facilities.
Furthermore, he instructed the relevant authorities to activate public complaint helplines and enhance field monitoring systems to allow for the immediate identification of any deficiencies in development work.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work at certain locations, the minister issued on-the-spot deadlines, cautioning that failure to meet them would result in action against those responsible. He concluded by affirming that practical measures to resolve the city”s issues would continue, promising tangible improvements for citizens.