The Sindh Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has sought town-wise records of road-cutting fees collected from utility companies amid concerns that excavated roads across Karachi remain unrepaired.
At the meeting, chaired by Nisar Khuhro, the committee asked how much each town had received and where the money had been spent.
Utilities pay these charges before digging public roads to install underground infrastructure. The funds are intended to cover subsequent road repairs and resurfacing.
SSGC alone paid Rs. 11.9 billion in advance to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, town municipal corporations and cantonment boards. However, the meeting was informed that most affected roads remained in poor condition without repairs by the relevant civic bodies.
While reviewing Jinnah Town’s audit objections, its municipal commissioner said the town had received Rs800 million in road-cutting charges and issued tender notices worth Rs. 300 million for roads and other development work.
Khuhro requested a list of the related schemes. Local government and town officials could not provide complete records of receipts and spending.
The PAC also directed the local government department to establish a mechanism for monitoring town development projects.
Separately, the committee questioned Jinnah Town’s reported Rs. 1.9 million purchase of manhole covers at Rs. 5,000 each. Officials said covers had been installed in UC-5, UC-7 and UC-8.
Khuhro asked why open manholes continued to endanger children despite such spending. The committee sought purchase and installation details from the towns.
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