Karachi, Pakistan – Several days after heavy rains lashed the city, Karachi’s busiest roads remain in a state of neglect, with no cleanup efforts initiated by the municipal authorities. Behind the crucial MA Jinnah Road, numerous streets are still broken, with open manholes, stagnant sewage, mud, and piles of garbage highlighting the inefficiency of local governance.
Residents have urgently appealed to the local government to restore the roads and sewerage system. The recent rains have left many parts of the city, including MA Jinnah Road, in ruins due to damaged infrastructure. Sewage water has flooded key roads and streets, leaving both main thoroughfares and inner streets in a deteriorated state. Overflowing gutters have become a common sight, exacerbating the city’s already dire sanitary conditions.
The areas behind MA Jinnah Road, including those surrounding the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), prominent private schools, City Mall, Gul Plaza, and various commercial centers, are facing severe sewage issues. Pedestrians are struggling to navigate the filth and sludge, with the absence of a functioning drainage system making it nearly impossible to walk through these streets.
Residents reported to The Express Tribune that the sewage system has been dysfunctional for four months, leading to frequent accidents as motorcyclists are unable to spot open manholes hidden by pooled water. Vehicles and motorbikes regularly get stuck in the mess, turning the area into a waste dump. Stagnant water not only produces foul odors but also creates a breeding ground for diseases.
The traffic flow has also been severely impacted, with what used to be a half-hour commute now taking up to 90 minutes. Residents are calling on municipal authorities to immediately begin clean-up operations and make the roads usable again.
The situation remains dire, and the residents’ patience is wearing thin as they await a response from the local government.
