KARACHI, Jan 7: Despite repeated public cry and assurances of high-ups, none of the damaged roads in Lyari Town has been repaired so far, a survey shows. Almost all the major roads in the town are in a dilapidated condition due to negligence of authorities, who claim the paucity of funds as one of the main reasons for delay in repair works.

One of the major commercial arteries of the town -Shah Latif Road- was completely destroyed during the last monsoons. The residents have repeatedly expressed concern over the inordinate delay in the repair work on this vital road.

A survey of the road showed that the entire road was in a dilapidated condition and not usable for commuters as well as pedestrians because of potholes and ditches developed in it.

With exception to some haphazard patch work carried out by the city government, no repair work has been undertaken so far to restore the road's original condition.

The people living within the jurisdiction of the Baghdadi Union Council say that they have been facing a great deal of hardships due to dangerous ditches, posing a threat to pedestrians, especially women, children and elderly people.

The provincial and city governments have constantly been assuring the people that roads and streets obstructing smooth traffic flow would be repaired at the earliest and those destroyed by rains, sewage, digging or other reasons would also be restored in their original condition.

Some local NGO activists say that the authorities have been pledging resumption of repair work particularly on Shah Latif Bhittai Road on priority basis. However, none of the damaged roads in Lyari Town have been repaired yet. The NGO activists blame the apathy of municipal authorities as one of the key factors in the resumption of repair works.