KARACHI: The city administrator on Wednesday reviewed the measures being taken by the Karachi Metropolitan Corpo­ration in view of expected monsoon rains.

City Administrator Laeeq Ahmed said that drainage pumps and other machinery and vehicles had been arranged and 20 new pumps purchased for drainage of rainwater.

The administrator passed these remarks while addressing a meeting to review measures at the city warden headquarters in Gulshan-i-Iqbal.

Relevant officials were also present in the meeting.

The Met office has predicted moderate to heavy rainfall for next week.

Laeeq Ahmed said that existing 11 dewatering pumps, tractors, dumpers and master trucks had also been repaired and as soon as it started raining, these pumps would be delivered to the places in the city where drainage was required.

“It is hoped that the citizens will see a better situation during the rainy season this time as compared to previous years,” he claimed.

The administrator said that 12 heavy pumps would be installed at places where there was a possibility of accumulation of rainwater in large quantities while 10 new pumps would be placed there to draw water from underpasses and also in case of complaints from citizens.

He said that based on last year’s experience, preparations had been made for the monsoon and every step was being taken to provide better facilities to citizens.

Laeeq Ahmed said that this time all the work was being done under the leadership of the engineering department for the management of rains and arrangements had been made in consultation with experienced engineers of the department concerned.

“This requires a large number of vehicles, so this year, keeping this aspect in mind, master trucks have been developed through which these pumps can be transported anywhere,” he said.

The administrator said that during the last few years, there had been complaints of rainwater accumulation in underpasses, which made it impossible for traffic to pass through them.

“Special pumps are bought this year through which drainage system from underpasses will start as soon as the rain falls,” he added.

He said that all available resources of the KMC were being utilised to provide facilities to citizens so that the basic infrastructure of the city could be protected from being affected by heavy rains.

“All the departments concerned of KMC will remain active and the grievances of citizens will be resolved by working 24 hours a day,” he added.

On the occasion, he issued various instructions to the officers and engineers present at the city warden headquarters.

He said that in order to make machinery functional for longer time, it should be maintained properly.

The administrator also planted a tree in connection with the tree plantation campaign at the city warden headquarters.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2021