Supreme Court on Saturday directed relevant authorities to clean sewers across Karachi before the first spell of monsoon rain. A two-judge bench of the apex court comprising of Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Faisal Arab was hearing a case concerning Sindh's water and sewerage problems at the Supreme Court's Karachi registry.
During the hearing, Justice Sajjad remarked, "If sewers are not cleaned before the first spell of rain, then people will suffer greatly." Additional Advocate-General Sindh Sarwar Khan informed the bench that on the orders of Sindh Water Commission, measures, including cleaning of sewers, have been initiated.
To this, Justice Arab responded, "It is shameful that work has just begun. You should have started work on your own." The two-judge bench further remarked that monsoon season is upon us, when will the work be completed?
Stating that clean water is a basic necessity of life, Justice Arab said that people should be provided with clean water. Meanwhile, petitioner Advocate Shahab Usto informed the bench that four big drains in the metropolis are being cleaned while there are 30 big and 500 small drains in Karachi.
"The Sindh government is allocating Rs 500 million for cleaning drains across the city," he said. The court directed relevant authorities to submit progress report and then adjourned the hearing of the case till May 5.