In a major step to improve neighborhood services, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has approved nearly Rs. 300 million a year to strengthen the upkeep of manhole covers and streetlights across the city.
Under the new plan, each of Karachi’s 246 union committees (UCs) will receive an additional Rs. 100,000 every month. The move comes after widespread public anger following the death of a three-year-old boy who fell into an open nullah near NIPA.
Mayor Murtaza Wahab said the decision aims to give UCs more financial room to respond quickly to local problems. He explained that this support is in addition to the manhole covers supplied by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) and the streetlights managed by KMC.
The UCs were already receiving Rs. 1.2 million per month, an amount recently increased from Rs. 500,000. With the new allocation, UCs will now get direct funds specifically for repairing or replacing manhole covers and keeping streetlights functional.
Officials confirmed that KMC will disburse Rs. 24.6 million every month for this purpose.
KWSC has issued guidelines to all towns and UCs to ensure a smooth supply of manhole covers. The city administration has also activated helpline 1334 and an email address to help residents report open manholes or broken streetlights.
This marks the first time since the June 2023 local government reforms that UCs are receiving direct financial support. Previously, most civic tasks were managed through inter-departmental coordination.
The funds will come from the Municipal Utility Charges and Taxes (MUCT) account, which KMC expects will generate around Rs. 4 billion annually through collection via K-Electric bills.
