High cost of crumbling infrastructure in Karachi

Dawn reports that deteriorating roads, congestion and weak public services are adding costs and delays for Karachi’s industrial businesses. Workers travelling to factories in SITE and Korangi face lengthy journeys, while freight vehicles carrying inputs and finished products are held up across several industrial districts.

At a recent gathering, trade and industrial representatives called for better coordination and faster delivery of civic projects. They cited Karachi’s role in national commerce, saying the city accounts for about 67pc of federal revenue and 54pc of exports; officials have approved more than Rs9 billion for industrial-area road work, but much of it remains unfinished after 10 months. A separate Rs2bn project allocation was described as inadequate for Korangi’s needs, while the mayor said funding would be raised in the next financial year.