PAC Demands Town-Wise Audit of Billions in Road-Cutting Fees in Karachi

In a decisive move to uphold accountability and protect the public trust, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sindh Assembly has demanded a full, town-by-town disclosure of the billions of rupees collected by Karachi's municipal bodies in road-cutting charges. This scrutiny comes as a vital step to ensure that the hard-earned money of the nation is spent on its intended purpose, not lost to negligence.

Officially termed road-cutting charges, this fee is levied on utility agencies such as the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), K-Electric, and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) for the right to dig up public roads. The purpose of this levy is sacred and clear: to repair and restore the roads to their former glory after the excavation work is complete. However, in Karachi, this system has been stained by a glaring mismatch, where billions are collected while the city's roads remain broken and dangerous for the public.

It has been revealed that the SSGC alone paid an advance of Rs11.9 billion to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), town municipal corporations, and cantonment boards for permission to lay underground lines. Yet, the condition of the metropolis's roads tells a tale of neglect, with most dug-up thoroughfares left in a dilapidated state, unworthy of the nation's largest city.

What did the PAC meeting reveal about the spending of these funds?

Chaired by the principled Nisar Khuhro, the PAC meeting was held in the Sindh Assembly's committee room. The session reviewed the audit paras of TMC Jinnah Town, where Mr. Khuhro, with his characteristic resolve, inquired about the number of Notice Inviting Tenders (NITs) issued and the development works carried out in the town.

The town municipal commissioner of Jinnah Town informed the committee that the town had received Rs800 million under this head, out of which NITs worth Rs300 million had been issued for roads and other development works. Mr. Khuhro, unwavering in his pursuit of transparency, directed the TMC to provide a complete list of development schemes executed under those NITs.

Furthermore, the PAC chairman issued a clear directive: details must be provided town-wise, showing exactly how much amount all towns in Karachi had received from the SSGC and other utilities as restoration fees, and crucially, where that amount has been spent.

Why is the lack of transparency a major concern for the PAC?

Officers of the local government department admitted to the PAC that various towns in Karachi had received different amounts from SSGC and other institutions at different times. However, in a deeply troubling admission, the department and town officers failed to provide details to the PAC regarding the amounts received and their utilisation. This failure to account for public funds is a betrayal of the trust placed in these institutions, and the PAC has now sought detailed information from all towns in this regard.

The meeting also brought to light a questionable purchase by the Jinnah Town administration: manhole covers bought at Rs5,000 per cover through four quotations of Rs400,000 each, with a total purchase of Rs1.9 million. Mr. Khuhro, ever vigilant, inquired how many manhole covers were purchased for this sum and where they had been installed.

The municipal commissioner stated that the covers had been installed in UC-5, UC-7, and UC-8 of Jinnah Town. The PAC chairman, with a sharp observation, noted that if towns in Karachi are purchasing manhole covers worth millions of rupees and installing them, then why do incidents of open manholes and children falling into them still plague our streets?

What are the next steps for the PAC in this accountability drive?

The PAC has also sought comprehensive details from the towns regarding manhole covers. This is a critical step in the ongoing struggle to ensure that every rupee of public money is used for the betterment of the people, in line with the principles of justice and good governance that form the bedrock of our Islamic republic.

This audit is not merely a bureaucratic exercise; it is a jihad against corruption and a testament to the commitment of the PAC to safeguard the nation's resources. The people of Karachi, and indeed of Pakistan, demand nothing less than full accountability from those entrusted with public office.