• Writes to LG minister over towns’ negligence and incompetence
• JI-backed town chairmen reject Wahab’s accusations, blame KMC, LG dept for post-rain chaos

KARACHI: As Karachi reels from battered streets and traffic chaos following the first spell of monsoon rains, a fresh political storm is brewing over the partnership between the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and the city’s town administrations for an ongoing infrastructure revamp, as the city mayor claims the arrangements between the two sides have turned vast swathes of the metropolis into dug-up trenches.

In a sharply worded letter addressed to Sindh’s Minister for Local Bodies, Saeed Ghani, Mayor Murtaza Wahab has openly voiced his displeasure, highlighting what he terms a “matter of public importance” and levelling serious allegations against the Town Municipal Corporations (TMCs).

In the letter, the mayor asserts that although billions have been collected by towns in the name of “road cutting charges” from utility companies — most notably SSGC — little to no rehabilitation work has followed. The result: roads in ruins, growing public outrage and a post-rain mess that could have been avoided, he says.

“It appears that despite receiving huge amounts, repair work has not been carried out by the respective towns,” the mayor writes, calling the condition of the roads “dilapidated” and blaming the worsening situation on the inaction of town administrations.

According to sources within the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), this is not the first time the mayor has flagged the issue. But this time, his tone is unmistakably direct — and accusatory. The letter does not merely highlight mismanagement; it hints at a deeper rift over jurisdiction and authority.

At the core of the controversy lies SSGC’s wide-scale infrastructure upgradation, which involves road cutting across the city. While SSGC has been paying hefty sums to towns for permission and restoration work, Mr Wahab contends that much of this is taking place without the involvement of KMC — despite many roads being under its jurisdiction.

“In numerous meetings with the Honourable Chief Minister Sindh, the matter was raised that funds collected for road restoration should be used solely for that purpose.” Yet, he alleges, towns have not only failed to restore the roads but have also overstepped their authority by charging fees on roads legally under KMC’s control.

Insiders suggest that the letter is the culmination of months of simmering tensions. While towns argue they are coordinating directly with SSGC to ensure a speedy infrastructure rollout, the KMC views the arrangement as a circumvention of its authority — and a recipe for administrative chaos.

“The roads are being dug up with impunity,” a KMC official said on condition of anonymity. “And when citizens complain, it’s KMC that takes the blame — despite the towns pocketing the funds.”

The mayor’s letter is seen by many as an attempt not only to call out inefficiencies but also to distance his administration from the growing public anger over the city’s crumbling road network.

TMCs reject criticism

Meanwhile, the towns dismissed the mayor’s concerns as “politically motivated” and accused the KMC of attempting to usurp their legitimate administrative authority.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, New Karachi Town Chairman Muhammad Yousuf, North Nazimabad Town Chairman Atif Ali Khan and Model Town Chairman Zafar Ahmed Khan held the mayor and the local government minister responsible for the situation that emerged in the aftermath of Karachi’s first spell of monsoon rains.

The town chairmen stated that the mayor, in his letter to the provincial local government minister, had levelled baseless accusations against town officials in an attempt to deflect blame from the mismanagement and incompetence of the KMC.

Expressing deep concern over the prevailing conditions, the local government representatives urged the mayor to fulfil his responsibilities rather than engaging in a “dirty blame game”.

They asserted that the KMC was responsible for cleaning all major drains, while both the KMC and the local government department were tasked with reconstructing major roads ahead of the monsoon season. However, they said, both entities had failed to carry out their duties in time.

The statement further noted that Rs600 million had been allocated for the drainage and cleanliness project, but the work was delayed and not completed before the rains. “Had the two bodies completed their work on time, the current situation could have been avoided,” it read.

Addressing the allegations regarding road reconstruction after SSGC’s excavation, the town chairmen clarified that such work was only to be undertaken after the gas utility completed its installations — and would be initiated in due course accordingly.

“The mayor cannot simply shrug off his responsibilities by blaming others for his own shortcomings,” the town chairmen added.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2025