KARACHI: Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Saturday issued a warning to officials and contractors, declaring that those who failed to perform their duties would face strict action. He gave them a 15-day deadline to complete the repair work on city roads, which had been damaged in the last monsoon rains.

Chairing a meeting of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Engineering Department, the mayor made it clear that negligence, delays, or substandard works would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

In the meeting, which was attended by municipal commissioner S.M. Afzal Zaidi, financial adviser Gulzar Abro, senior director engineering Junaid Ullah Khan, director media Danial Siyal, and others, the mayor reviewed the status of ongoing development projects and situation of funds release.

A statement issued after the meeting said that the mayor reiterated that no project bill should be passed without third-party verification, stressing that transparency and quality were non-negotiable.

Orders expeditious solarisation of street lights

Officials briefed him on the District Annual Development Programme (ADP) schemes, Parovincial ADP initiatives, CLICK projects, and various emergency works.

Senior director engineering Junaid Ullah Khan presented updates on current schemes, while financial adviser Gulzar Abro confirmed that the Sindh government had released the necessary funds.

“With funds available, there is no justification for delays,” the statement quoted the mayor as saying.

“Any officer or contractor showing negligence will not be spared. All departments have to ensure the completion of all schemes by June 30 to provide maximum relief to citizens.”

The City Council in June 2025 approved a Rs55.28bn KMC budget for the year 2025-26. The total expenditures were estimated at Rs55.13bn, showing a surplus of Rs146.272m.

The city budget allocated investments in the medical and health services (Rs7.29bn), development projects, including the World Bank-funded CLICK (Competitive and Livable City of Karachi) project (Rs7.43bn), municipal services (Rs5.30bn) and infrastructure under the district ADP schemes (Rs9bn).

He also ordered the expeditious solarisation of street lights, calling it an essential step for improving urban services. Addressing the condition of roads damaged in the recent rains at the meeting, the mayor said all such roads must be fully repaired within 15 days, adding that those failing to meet the deadline “should be ready to go home”.

Mr Wahab, the statement said, emphasised that the development of Karachi must remain top priority, and any compromise in this regard would invite immediate action.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2025