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Karachi: Neglected Infrastructure Kills Residents
15 Dec, 2025
Summary
- A child died after falling into an uncovered manhole.
- Fragmented governance leads to a paralysis of responsibility.
- Deteriorating infrastructure creates a cycle of predictable failures.
In Karachi, infrastructure intended to protect citizens has tragically become a cause of death, as evidenced by a recent incident where a young boy fell into an uncovered manhole and perished. This event underscores a widespread pattern of neglect and systemic failure within the city's essential services, moving beyond the realm of mere accidents to predictable consequences of decay.
The city's infrastructure is crumbling due to a combination of factors including theft of materials, unfinished repairs, and a pervasive sense of indifference. Responsibilities for critical systems like drainage, roads, and sewerage are fractured among multiple overlapping government bodies, leading to a paralysis in governance where accountability is diffuse and action is often reactive, triggered only after tragedies occur.
This persistent deterioration affects all aspects of urban life, from roads collapsing due to leaking sewer lines to choked drainage systems causing predictable flooding. Residents are forced to navigate a hazardous environment daily, highlighting a profound infrastructure crisis that requires sustained, coordinated, and depoliticized investment to ensure public safety and restore the fundamental promise of a secure city.
