KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, while addressing a press conference at Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Head Office, said that there are around 600 drains in Karachi, out of which 46 major drains fall under the jurisdiction of KMC, while more than 500 drains are within the limits of various Town Municipal Administrations.
He said that criticism was directed at him that the drains were not cleaned, whereas the fact is that water was not removed by tankers but through the city’s drains themselves, which had been cleaned. More than 300 millimetres of rainfall water was drained out through these channels. The capacity of KMC’s drains is 40 millimetres rainfall, and due to limited capacity, water spread into surrounding areas during heavy rainfall.
He said that had KMC not cleaned its drains, the city’s major areas would have remained submerged. “If Gujjar Nullah had not been cleaned, its adjoining areas would not have cleared; if Mehmoodabad Nullah had not been cleaned, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Tariq Road, Shahrah-e-Quaideen, Nehr-e-Khyam, Civil Lines area, Clifton, Gizri, Punjab Colony, and Gurumandir, among others, would not have cleared. Similarly, if Orangi Nullah had not been cleared, the surrounding areas would also have remained under water,” he added.
Mayor Karachi further said that due to the cleaning of Glass Tower Nullah, Soldier Bazaar Nullah, Machar Colony Nullah, and other drains in District West, those areas were cleared. Similarly, if M.A. Jinnah Road, Shahin Complex Nullah, and Hijrat Colony Nullah had not been cleared, water drainage on Chundrigar Road, Lyari, and Keamari would not have been possible. He highlighted that Yusuf Goth had historically been devastated during monsoon rains, but under the directives of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, a new drain was constructed there, and this time, Yusuf Goth did not flood.
Mayor Karachi added that water drainage on important roads including Shaheen Complex, Korangi Road, Baloch Colony Road, 12000 Road, University Road, Rashid Minhas Road, and Sher Shah Suri Road was possible only because the drains in those areas were cleared.
Murtaza Wahab criticized Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, stating that they held press conferences on roads when those roads were already clear. “Munim Zafar did not mention that Altaf Hussain Barelvi Road, which was constructed just five days earlier, was washed away by the rains. He should have also acknowledged the good work of Gulshan Town Chairman, due to which Block 13-D of Gulshan-e-Iqbal remained dry. Instead, only negative propaganda was carried out.”
He said that Farooq Sattar should, as a former MNA, demonstrate some practical work and get the federal government to declare Karachi a disaster-affected city. “Problems are not solved with mere words and criticism. The first allotment of the New Karachi Nullah was carried out during Farooq Sattar’s tenure, and today he criticizes, but facts are before everyone,” he remarked.
Mayor Karachi said that rainfall was heavier than expected and “no one, no matter how powerful, can stop rainwater. Water will come and drainage takes time. If there is any shortcoming, point it out and we will address it.” He said they do not complain about lack of powers, “We only want discussions based on responsibilities.” Speaking further, he said Farooq Sattar should not take offense at being called “Babu Bhai retired,” while in fact, he is currently PSA to the Governor. He added that Jamaat-e-Islami must also clarify that their Town administrations have already been given Rs. 27 billion, yet instead of focusing on responsibilities; they raise slogans and spread negative propaganda.
Mayor Karachi admitted shortcomings on the first day of rain, saying that citizens faced traffic jams. “When Shahrah-e-Faisal closes, the entire city is affected. I accept that traffic management was not handled properly; even I took two and a half hours to reach Nursery.”
He pointed out that the newly constructed drain near Nasla Tower was functioning properly, while heavy water inflows from the Nursery Furniture Market area were managed through immediate operations. At Baloch Colony, Zehri Nullah was flowing like River Swat, collecting water from all surrounding areas of Shahrah-e-Faisal and receiving inflows from three directions, yet within two hours after rainfall, the situation was cleared. “I admit water stood for three to four hours and people faced difficulty. For those three to four hours of inconvenience, I apologize to the citizens. The responsibility of the people is mine, and I will not make excuses about lack of authority,” he said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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