By Aziz Khatri
KARACHI: Karachi’s mayor, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, has directed the immediate formation of independent vigilance teams to monitor major arteries of the city and ensure that small and medium-scale road repair issues are resolved within 24 hours.
The directive was issued during a high-level meeting of the engineering department held at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) head office on 18 December, where progress on ongoing development projects across the city was reviewed.
Wahab said separate emergency tenders for minor repair works had already been executed using funds collected through municipal taxes, adding that the availability of both resources and funding left no justification for delays. He instructed that vigilance teams should regularly inspect roads, identify issues proactively and submit progress reports directly to higher authorities, without waiting for public complaints or formal intimation.
“This is the responsibility of officials, not citizens, to point out minor road-related problems,” the mayor said. “Every district must have an active vigilance team to ensure that issues are resolved within 24 hours.” He warned that strict action would be taken against the engineering department in cases of non-compliance or failure to meet the deadline.
Officials briefed the meeting on the status of projects under the District Annual Development Program (ADP), the Provincial ADP and those funded through the CLICK program. Senior engineers said mega projects under CLICK funding had reached an advanced stage, with more than 70% progress achieved, and several schemes were expected to be inaugurated before March.
The meeting was also told that nearly all funds allocated for provincial ADP schemes for two quarters had been utilized, with remaining work progressing within approved timelines. Wahab directed departments to expedite and complete all codal formalities related to projects on Natha Khan Road and Jahangir Road.
Stressing accountability and delivery, the mayor said citizens had high expectations and that tangible improvements were already visible across the city. “Our focus remains on timely execution, transparency and visible progress,” he said.
The meeting was attended by municipal commissioner KMC Syed Mohammad Afzal Zaidi, financial adviser Gulzar Abro, senior director engineering Junaid Ullah Khan, senior director coordination to the mayor Akhlaq Ahmed, and other senior officials.
