Sir,

In the Mehmoodabad area, load-shedding starts at 7.30pm and ends at 10pm. There is electricity for five to 10 minutes and it is disconnected till 4.15am. Again there is light for 15 minutes and then load-shedding resumes.

This has become a nuisance. There may be electricity in other parts of the locality, but not in Mehmoodabad No 6.

We voted for the PML-N thinking that things would improve, but since the party has taken over we are having sleepless nights and the situation is going from bad to worse.

Will the government of Sindh/federal government kindly come to our help?

JOHNNY MATHEW Mehmoodabad No 6

Abandoned flyovers

Sir, It has been over six months since the construction of three flyovers on Shahrah-i-Pakistan, one of Karachi’s busiest roads, began.

However construction work has come to an abrupt halt apparently because of outstanding dues on part of the federal government. Due to the abandonment of this project, commuters and the residents of the locality are facing grave inconvenience.

Not only is it a matter of inconvenience, it is also a threat to life and health as the construction material, including rebars and concrete blocks, has been left uncovered in the open, and there is formation of dirty puddles and a high presence of dust in the air. The traffic situation has worsened and it takes an hour to travel from Lalu Khet to Water Pump during rush hour, with added noise and air pollution.

I would request the authorities to look into the matter and speed up work on this much-needed project in order to make the lives of Karachiites a bit less miserable. Once completed, these flyovers will significantly improve the traffic flow on Shahrah-i-Pakistan and its adjacent roads.

ALI RIZVI Nazimabad

Empress Market encroachments

Sir, Empress Market is among the oldest wholesale markets of the city, constructed during the British Raj. In spite of having historical significance the authorities have never paid attention to its maintenance and the market has lost its charm.

Now, the front area of the market allocated for parking has turned into a lunda bazaar with hawkers occupying more than half of the parking area.

The contractor of the parking area is apparently collecting ‘rent’ from these hawkers.

I request the city administration to take notice and clear the parking area of encroachments in order to facilitate parking for visitors to Empress Market.

ANAS HAMDANI Via email

Pedestrian bridge

Sir, The residents of Power House Chowrangi, North Karachi, would like to invite the attention of the administrator Karachi through your newspaper to an urgent matter. Road accidents are occurring on a regular basis on Surjani Road, passing through the Power House Chowrangi, Sector 11/A to Bara Market, 5C-4, North Karachi because of heavy traffic flow and traffic movement from the wrong direction.

Many area people have been injured and some have even died in accidents while crossing the road. The only existing pedestrian bridge is at Bara Market, 5C-4, which is far away from Power House Chowrangi. People residing near this roundabout have to cross the road to catch buses and to buy daily use items from the shops located on the other side of the road. Schoolchildren and elders are most vulnerable to road accidents.

We have since long demanded that a pedestrian bridge be built on an urgent basis across the road in the middle of Power House Chowrangi and Bara Market and have written several applications to the administrator Karachi and many other city officials, but so far no measures have been taken by the authorities to fulfil the demand of the local people. It seems the authorities have no intention to build the bridge in order to safeguard people’s lives.

MUHAMMAD ABUL KALAM North Karachi

Sewage overflow

Sir, Over the past many months, the residents of Sahibdad Village (Malir) have had to put up with overflowing sewage. Though several complaints have been lodged with the authorities concerned, the problem has not been addressed.

The elderly, women and schoolchildren are the worst affected by the flow of sewage, which has not only accumulated in front of the mosque and school but has also entered houses and streets.

The main reason is the permanent blockage in the main pipeline. The authorities concerned are therefore requested once more to look into the matter seriously.

MASOOD BALOCH Via email

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