DURING my recent visit to Pakistan, I was struck by many things about Hyderabad, but perhaps nothing more telling than the potholes directly outside the office of the mayor. It is difficult to imagine a more obvious symbol of municipal neglect. The mayor does not need to travel across the city to see the condition of Hyderabad’s roads. The evidence is literally right at his doorstep. Despite being immediately visible to the very officials responsible for municipal administration, these dangerous road conditions remain unaddressed.

If the mayor’s office cannot ensure that the road immediately outside its own building is properly maintained, what confidence can people have that the rest of Hyderabad’s roads are receiving the attention they deserve? During my visit, I found this particularly disappointing. A city’s roads are among the most basic responsibilities of a local government. Allowing large potholes to remain outside the mayor’s own office sends an undeniable message of indifference and failure.

Perhaps the potholes outside the mayor’s office should be treated as more than road damage. They are a visible measure of accountability. Every day they remain unrepaired, they raise an uncomfortable question about municipal priorities.

Shakeel Nizamani
Calgary, Canada

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2026