ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of missing manhole covers in the capital city have been posing a serious risk to citizens.

Just two years ago, a father and his son lost their lives after falling into an uncovered manhole in Sector I-10. Following the incident, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) swung into action and began covering such manholes in what appeared to be a knee-jerk response. However, after a few weeks, the authority almost shelved this important public safety project.

Earlier this month, a three-year-old child died after falling into an open sewer in the Submal area of Islamabad, which lies outside CDA’s jurisdiction in an illegal settlement. This incident, too, raised alarm bells for city residents.

Citizens say open manholes are death traps, as survival rates are extremely low whenever someone falls into sewerage manholes.

According to official data, there are a total of 30,000 manholes in the city, of which 1,657 are uncovered

Official documents available with Dawn state that 1,600 manhole covers are required. However, CDA spokesperson Shahid Kiani contested this figure, saying there are 600 missing sewerage manhole covers within CDA’s jurisdiction.

“We have proactively launched a major safety drive to install covers on all manholes. A comprehensive survey of approximately 30,000 manholes was carried out. Out of the total, 800 sewerage manholes were found missing. Of these, about 200 have already been covered,” he said, adding that the remaining 600 sewerage manholes would be covered soon.

When pressed about the official figure of 1,600 uncovered manholes, he said, “Actually, besides uncovered ones, we also added new covers to our demand list for present and future needs.”

“Sewerage Directorate has initiated a rate-running contract for 1,700 covers to expedite repairs and meet anticipated needs for the rest of the financial year. The CDA is actively pursuing this matter to ensure public safety,” he added.

According to official data from the City Sewerage Directorate (CSD), there are a total of 30,000 manholes in the city, of which 1,657 are uncovered.

A CSD official said a campaign is underway to install manhole covers across the city. “Recently, we conducted a survey, which pointed out the need for 1,717 manhole covers. We started work and, so far, have installed covers on around 200 manholes, while work is in progress on the remaining ones,” the official said.

He said all these manholes are linked to the CSD and are highly risky, with depths reaching up to 40 feet. “There are various sizes of manholes, ranging from eight to 15 feet, but those linked with the main trunk line are as deep as 40 feet,” the source said.

He added that these manholes are death traps due to the presence of toxic gases. “God forbid, if anyone falls down, survival is unlikely because of the gases, as was the case in Sector I-10 in July 2023, when a 14-year-old ninth-grade student, Abdul Rehman, fell into a manhole and his father, Arshad Satti, also lost his life in an unsuccessful rescue attempt,” the official said.

“I do agree that multibillion-rupee projects are also important for the city, which the CDA has been executing eagerly, but there is a need to focus on this highly important issue, as these manholes pose a serious risk to citizens,” he said.

“Covering all manholes should be the utmost priority of the CDA, and if the need arises, work should be carried out round the clock, as this issue is directly linked to public safety,” said Owais Ahmed, a resident of Sector G-6. He said residents could survive without new roads and interchanges, but not with open manholes, which are death traps.

“I came to know that the CDA has started a project to install all missing covers. I would urge it to complete this task on a war-footing basis to avoid any human loss,” he added.

Besides the CSD manholes, there are also a large number of uncovered manholes belonging to the water directorate. Sources said there are a total of 8,075 manholes under the directorate, of which around 200 are uncovered. Officials said work is underway to cover these as well.

“Compared to sewerage manholes, the manholes of the water directorate are less dangerous due to their shallower depth and the absence of gas and chemical hazards,” said another official. “However, these manholes also need to be covered.”

The CDA spokesperson, while contesting the figures related to the Water Directorate, said, “All manholes, whether belonging to the CSD or the water directorate, will be covered soon.”

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2026