Karachi Drowns in Chaos as Monsoon Rains Expose City's Crumbling Infrastructure

Karachi, Pakistan's most populous urban center, is facing a severe crisis as heavy monsoon rains expose the city's crumbling infrastructure. The administrative responsibilities of the city are divided between the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and the six local cantonment boards, leading to a jurisdictional tug-of-war that has significantly contributed to the city's decline.

On normal days, the public is generally able to manage its affairs, but when the rain comes, all hell breaks loose across the city due to widespread waterlogging. Major arteries witness hours-long traffic jams, making it a Herculean task for commuters to reach their destinations. Karachi recently experienced one of its wettest Augusts in 2020, with 484mm of rain in a single day - the most since 1931.

While citizens rightly blame government agencies for Karachi's abysmal state of affairs, the city's business community also deserves criticism. After the recent monsoon rains, multiple trade bodies claimed that they had suffered losses to the tune of Rs14-15 billion. However, they knew well that Karachi could witness heavy rainfall and should have taken anticipatory action to protect their warehouses and other storage areas.

Experts call for a joint strategy put together by all relevant components of the local administration to end unplanned development in the city, remove encroachments and illegal constructions that block storm-water drains and the natural flow of water, and prepare the city well for future spells of torrential rain. The business community must also take ownership of the areas where they operate and work with the government to improve the city's infrastructure and preparedness.