KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Chief, Monem Zafar on Wednesday inaugurated the distribution of 1,000 manhole covers in New Karachi Town, launching what he described as a “Save Our Children” initiative aimed at preventing tragic accidents caused by open manholes across the city. Speaking to media alongside New Karachi Town Chairman Muhammad Yousuf and other officials, Monem Zafar urged the authorities to take immediate steps to protect children and citizens from fatal incidents. He said that despite repeated promises, the city administration had failed to ensure basic safety measures, resulting in continued loss of lives. Highlighting the performance of New Karachi Town, he said the town administration had constructed 600 streets, developed a water park, and provided clean water through pipelines to 20,000 homes. He termed the preparation of 1,000 manhole covers a commendable initiative to prevent accidents and safeguard children. Monem Zafar called on the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to also distribute manhole covers in the towns under their control. Criticizing the city’s leadership, he said all promises made by the “imposed mayor” had proven false, with deadlines repeatedly announced and later withdrawn. He added that residents were suffering daily due to the poor condition of major roads, including Jahangir Road, 7,000 Feet Road, New Karachi roads, M.M. Alam Road, and Manghopir Road. He accused the PPP-led Sindh government of lacking a clear development vision for Karachi, claiming the city was being turned into ruins and that no major project appeared close to completion. He also criticized Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab for announcing the closure of hydrants without arranging alternative pipeline water supply, noting that more than 40 percent of the city depended on the tankers. Referring to Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon’s claims of development, Monem Zafar questioned which projects had actually been completed. He said the city had been dug up extensively and described Jahangir Road as a symbol of failure, having been rebuilt three times in the past five years. The JI leader said incidents of children falling into open manholes and losing their lives were continuing unabated. He highlighted JI’s development work, stating that the party had established a network of parks, revived sports grounds, addressed sewerage problems, constructed roads, laid paver blocks and asphalt carpeting, installed street lights, rehabilitated schools, and completed numerous other development projects in JI-run towns. He disclosed that JI had so far paid Rs7.8 billion in outstanding dues to employees across its nine towns. Reiterating that the “Haq Do Karachi” movement was ongoing, he said no government was willing to truly own Karachi. He recalled that former prime minister Imran Khan had announced a Rs1,100 billion package for the city, while the Sindh government had announced a Rs84 billion grant under the Karachi Transformation Plan, terming such announcements misleading and calling for an end to hostility against Karachi. Monem Zafar further stated that, on average, each union council in Karachi had between 2,500 and 3,000 manholes. He criticized the grant of Rs100,000 per union council announced by the mayor, pointing out that K-Electric had started issuing electricity bills of Rs60,000 to each union council for the past two months. He termed this hypocrisy and said promises, including action against the parking mafia, had not been fulfilled, as illegal parking operations continued even outside the KMC building. New Karachi Town Chairman Muhammad Yousuf said that more than 27 people, including children, had died across Karachi in the past year after falling into open sewers. He alleged that the Water Corporation, chaired by Murtaza Wahab, was unwilling to install manhole covers and instead shifted responsibility to others. To protect residents, particularly children, he said New Karachi Town had prepared 1,000 manhole covers. He announced that residents requiring a manhole cover could obtain one by submitting their CNIC and a photograph of the open manhole. He added that over the past two and a half years, the town administration had spent Rs90 million on resolving water and sewerage issues, despite these matters not falling within its jurisdiction. He said water had been supplied through pipelines to 20,000 homes that had remained without water for 15 to 20 years. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026