KARACHI: In anticipation of the upcoming monsoon season, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has launched a citywide drain-cleaning campaign to prevent water logging and ensure the smooth flow of rainwater, said a statement on Thursday.

“The initiative follows the timely release of funds from the Sindh finance department, aimed at strengthening the city’s infrastructure and resilience against seasonal rains,” it said.

“As part of the campaign, cleaning work has commenced at key drainage points, including Hijrat Colony Nullah, Machar Colony Nullah, and PIDC Nullah. These sites are among the most critical for maintaining uninterrupted water flow in densely populated urban areas,” the statement added.

It said Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab inspected various locations, where he reviewed the progress and instructed the KMC officials to expedite the desilting and waste removal efforts. He emphasised the importance of completing these operations well ahead of heavy rainfall to avoid urban flooding.

“The goal is to maintain a consistent and uninterrupted drainage system before, during and after the monsoon season. We are working round the clock to safeguard Karachi’s residents from water accumulation and its associated hazards,” the statement quoted the mayor as saying.

Earlier, the mayor laid the foundation stone for various development projects in Lines Area, including internal road restoration, drainage and paving of streets. Talking to reporters on this occasion, he said 11 development schemes worth Rs1 billion had been approved in the budget for district East and work on those projects will commence in the coming days.

“A longstanding issue in the area is water leakage and corrective measures will also be initiated for that. Sewerage lines in the area will be repaired at a cost of Rs132 million,” he said. “Total Rs20m has been allocated for each of Karachi’s 246 union councils. We have allocated funds for every UC without any discrimination, regardless of the political party affiliation, because every UC represents Karachi. Some people make announcements and promises, but only the Pakistan Peoples Party has fulfilled those promises.”

Deputy Mayor Karachi Salman Abdullah Murad, Deputy Parliamentary Leader in City Council Dil Muhammad, Jumman Darwan, elected local government representatives and relevant officials were also present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2025