Business leaders are demanding urgent action on damaged roads

KARACHI:

Karachi’s business leaders have urgently called for a comprehensive master plan to address the city’s deteriorating road infrastructure. Recognizing the central role of smooth roads in enhancing economic growth, these leaders emphasize the need for a strategic approach to improving transportation efficiency and accessibility.

Well-maintained roads, they argue, are vital to facilitating the movement of goods and people, reducing transport costs and increasing overall productivity. The ripple effect extends to attracting investment, stimulating trade and boosting economic activity. Improved connectivity is seen as a catalyst for growth in both urban and rural areas, creating a wealth of opportunities for both businesses and communities.

Business leaders advocate an approach similar to business diplomacy, where diplomatic skills are used to navigate the complexities of the global business environment. They emphasize the importance of building partnerships, resolving conflicts and addressing regulatory challenges as integral elements of economic statehood.

President of All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI), Atiq Mir highlights the serious impact of dilapidated road infrastructure on local businesses. Increased transport costs, supply chain delays and vehicle damage, he argues, escalate operating costs for businesses, affecting their competitiveness and profitability. In addition, unreliable transport infrastructure deters potential investors and customers, hindering economic activities and potentially leading to reduced local business development.

Mir said the renewed road infrastructure could particularly benefit small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by improving transport efficiency. Reduced transit times and improved connectivity enable faster movement of goods, ultimately reducing logistics costs for SMEs. Creating a more conducive atmosphere for the functioning and prosperity of markets is seen as a direct result of better roads.

The current situation is attributed to the lack of coordination between the government agencies responsible for road construction, natural gas lines, sewerage and water supply. “When the city government was functional, significant progress was missing. During Waseem Akhtar’s tenure as the mayor of Karachi, various obstacles hampered his work. However, ever since lawyer Murtaza Wahab assumed the role of mayor, development efforts continue to be on hold.

Persistent issues of dishonesty, criminal negligence and lack of will within the Sindh government contribute to the deterioration of the city’s roads. Historically, despite receiving substantial grants—amounting to 10 billion and 20 billion rupees—Karachi has seen no visible improvements. The city has become a victim of corruption within local government agencies.

A glaring absence of a master plan further aggravates the situation in Karachi. Departments responsible for building or repairing roads operate independently, leading to a lack of coordination. This disjointed approach is evident when one department builds or repairs a road, only for another to lay gas, sewer or water lines. The result is dilapidated roads, which particularly affect markets and bazaars.”

Mirza Tariq, a confectionary and food vendor, provides first-hand accounts of the poor conditions of the main roads in Karachi. It highlights specific sections such as Shahjehan Avenue, Water Pump Chowrangi to People’s Chowrangi and People’s Chowrangi to Sakhi Hassan, as well as sections of Nishter Road, Jehangir Road and roads in Lyari, Malir, Korangi and Landhi. Tariq lamented the higher vehicle maintenance cost compared to transportation cost due to the condition of these roads.

Karachi Citizens Forum (KCF) editor Nargis Rahman said, “The actions of government officials in Karachi can be described as merely cosmetic. Major highways and roads suffer from a thin layer of poor construction material, aggravated by heavy vehicular traffic and a damaged drainage system. Investments in road infrastructure are insufficient, leading to significant losses.

The consequences extend beyond the damaged roads, affecting the health and productivity of commuters, including staff, traders, students and women. The overall well-being of the public is at stake, resulting in a deficit of trust in government services. Despite the obvious challenges in road conditions, there is an ironic lack of citizen complaints about the substandard services provided by government agencies. This situation leaves everyone a victim of malpractice and contributes to collective loss.”

Riazuddin, a leading industrialist and former president of the Site Association of Industry (SAI), called for the implementation of a master plan for the entire city. He stressed that the primary responsibility of the Sindh government is to allocate resources for infrastructure, eliminate corruption, improve construction materials and ensure the functionality of the traffic engineering office of the Karachi Development Authority (KDA). He lamented the disproportionate allocation of funds and claimed that only 30% to 40% is spent on roads while the rest is collected.

Reading IESCO is starting the process to upgrade the infrastructure

Highlighting specific cases, Riazuddin pointed to the main Mangopir road, reconstructed three years ago, where large chunks have already been broken. He attributed the inability of contractors to build roads with proper construction materials to rampant cuts and kickbacks, leading to a compromise in quality. He considered a total renovation of infrastructure necessary, requiring a redesign of Karachi’s master plan, especially in areas with informal settlements (Katchi abadis).

Leading builder and urban planner Hanif Gohar, former president of Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD), underlined the need for sincere institutional commitment and merit awards for road contracts. He highlighted the potential for incremental improvement if institutions operate honestly and road construction contracts are awarded on the basis of value.

While some road projects are managed by the Sindh Works and Services Department, the majority fall under the jurisdiction of the local government of Sindh and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), with the support of other authorities.

A senior KMC official gave details on condition of anonymity, saying, “There are around 200 Annual Development Program (ADP) schemes for road infrastructure in Karachi. KMC has earmarked about Rs 1,500 million for road-related projects since the major flood of 2022 till date. However, about Rs 4,000 million is needed to renovate or repair dilapidated roads under the jurisdiction of the KMC. KMC oversees a vast network of 106 major arterial roads including Shahrah-e-Faisal, MA Jinnah Road, Shahrah-e-Pakistan and others.

Inadequate drainage system and blocked storm drains pose significant challenges, damaging roads and affecting various sections of the city’s arteries. A proper drainage system and a well-maintained storm drain are essential to protect roads from wear and tear.”

Another official said that the KMC has not received a single installment of the budget allocated for the financial year 2023-2024, which is around Rs 3.6 billion annually. This budget is divided into four installments and provided on a quarterly basis. Despite the delay in budget disbursement, KMC is using its own revenue to fund minor road projects.

On the road infrastructure development plans in Karachi, a senior official from the Sindh Works and Services Department said there are four categories of plans. These include four continuous improvement programs, one ongoing construction program, one new construction design and three prestressed bridges. The total sanctioned cost for all the nine schemes is Rs.3,109,322 million.

A resident of Defense Housing Authority (DHA) Khayaban-e-Bahria Phase-V main raised concerns, saying, “The gas company stopped the old line and laid a new line two months ago. However, they were unable to connect the new line to the system. As a result, residents of this affluent area have been dealing with clouds of dust and broken roads for about two months due to the ongoing work to install gas, telephone and sewer lines back-to-back.”

The Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Science at NED University of Engineering and Technology, Professor Dr. Noman Ahmed called for a comprehensive survey of the condition of the road to identify defects and plan a phased rehabilitation program. He emphasized the importance of including rehabilitation projects in budget proposals and developing a strategy for scientific and proper road repairs. Ahmed identified damaged drainage systems, poor construction materials, increased vehicular traffic, faulty road design and degraded drainage systems as the main issues contributing to poor infrastructure.

As preparations for next year’s budget approach, Ahmed advocated a strategy to initiate scientific road repairs for the benefit of all Karachiites. In addition, he said the traffic police play a critical role in monitoring the varying dynamics of vehicular traffic situations. Their role extends to informing passengers about traffic information services, providing details of roads under construction and suggesting alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion. He pointed out that in foreign countries, traffic police operate an FM channel to inform travelers and a similar pilot channel was earlier introduced in the country. He advocated the need to popularize such channels again for the benefit of the public.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^u2024.

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