Karachi's mayor and commissioner control road-cutting permissions

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken action against the frequent digging of newly built roads in the city. He has removed the power of municipal corporations to grant road-cutting permissions. Now, only the Karachi mayor and city commissioner can allow such work. This decision came during a meeting at the Chief Minister's House to discuss various problems in Karachi. CM Shah noted that the ongoing road digging in some districts is causing trouble for residents. He has asked local government officials to issue a new order preventing any local officer from independently allowing road cuts. The Chief Secretary has also been instructed to make these operations less disruptive. The meeting, which included important officials like Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, also focused on other issues such as drainage, illegal encroachments, sanitation, and security. CM Shah emphasized the need for better governance to tackle Karachi's challenges. He mentioned problems like overflowing gutters and debris on roads. To address these, he ordered citywide inspections by assistant commissioners. Additionally, a new ‘Karachi Issues Portal’ will be created to allow local officials to report on various civic issues. With Eid approaching, heightened police presence has been called for to ensure safety in markets. Improvements in street lighting and traffic management were also requested. Mayor Wahab has been tasked with beautifying several key areas in time for the celebrations. The CM reviewed ongoing projects, including a water pipeline installation in Lyari, and called for a swift resolution of existing issues. He also announced plans for removing minor encroachments to keep public spaces accessible.