IS it not surprising that 72 years have passed since independence yet we have been unsuccessful in making proper roads and sewerage systems?

This has been attributed to the inefficiency of officials who ignore complaints all the year around and only pay heed before the announcement of the upcoming budget or elections.

Proper infrastructure is essential for industrialisation and the development of a nation. In Pakistan, poor infrastructure is one of the man hurdles in the path of development and progress. Billions of rupees of taxpayers’ money and foreign aid are spent annually ostensibly to maintain proper roads and sewerage systems. However, little rain washes away billions of rupees that were invested in the maintenance and construction of roads and drainage. In a developed city like Hong Kong, the worst rainstorms cause minimal damage to the infrastructure.

It’s quite astonishing that it takes eons to construct roads and install drainage pipes in Pakistan, but in merely weeks or months that they are demolished or clogged up.

Have you ever seen roads destroyed prior to the announcement of the budget be it at the excuse of installing a new gas, telephone, electricity or water lines? Ever questioned why is that so? Well, many times, the contractors and officials themselves destroy the roads and help in choking the drainage system so that they can have new allocations in the new budget.

Muhammad Ahtesham Hameed
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2019