Jahangir Road, once hailed as a model roadway after being constructed two years ago by the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) to international standards, is now a daily nightmare for commuters. Both tracks of the busy road are riddled with potholes, causing endless traffic jams and headaches for thousands of Karachiites.
A survey by Express Tribune revealed that the biggest issue isn’t just the bumpy ride—the footpaths are dangerously neglected. There are 29 open manholes along the stretch, putting pedestrians at constant risk. Between Teen Hatti and Gurumandir, 26 manhole covers are missing, footpaths are either broken or blocked by utility lines and heaps of garbage. On the return track, three more manholes are uncovered, and there aren’t even any paved walkways for people to use.
The newly built road itself isn’t faring much better. Potholes have cropped up at 15 different locations. Despite being constructed under strict American highway standards and costing a whopping Rs220 million, Jahangir Road started falling apart much sooner than expected. This has led the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to declare that it will rebuild the road—triggering criticism about oversight and quality.
Locals are fed up. Muhammad Taufiq, a resident of Martin Quarters, pointed out that the road runs through densely populated neighborhoods and was financed by taxpayers. “We suffer during the road’s construction—and afterwards too, due to shoddy work. The engineers who built this should be held accountable, and authorities need to cover these manholes before someone gets seriously hurt,” he said.
According to UC-5 Chairman Kaleem Usmani, Jahangir Road’s problems have persisted for eight years, with repeated reconstructions failing to solve anything. “The original 2003 road lasted almost 15 years but these recent fixes last only months. Drainage issues and flooding are constant problems—a clear sign something is seriously wrong,” Usmani shared.
A KDA official admitted Jahangir Road began deteriorating just half a year after reconstruction. To dodge public criticism, authorities did some temporary carpeting, but the underlying problems remain. This road was part of a massive Rs5.6 billion development package, with Rs220 million set aside just for Jahangir Road. Meanwhile, potholes on Shahrah-e-Pakistan were given half-hearted, quick fixes, not proper resurfacing.
Experts say road rebuilding under American highway standards should mean a complete overhaul
