Are Karachi Roads Finally Getting Fixed?
If you drive in Karachi, your suspension probably hates you.
Whether you’re a sedan owner dodging deep “craters” on Chundrigar Road or a 4×4 enthusiast, finding smooth roads in the city is more challenging than a rally stage, and the struggle in 2025 has made it worse.
The 2025 monsoon wreaked havoc on the city’s asphalt, but finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel. According to DAWN, the Sindh Government has officially completed a comprehensive survey of the city’s battered road network and is ready to invest substantial capital in its restoration.
TL;DR
Following devastating monsoon rains in 2025, the Sindh Government has finalized a survey to repair 559 roads across Karachi. Backed by a Rs. 25 billion budget and the World Bank’s CLICK project, the initiative aims to reconstruct major arteries and internal streets, and to integrate drainage systems to prevent future washouts.
The Breakdown: 559 Roads on the “Surgery” List
The damage report is massive. According to the year-end survey, the city’s infrastructure requires an overhaul of over 500 roads. The repair work is being split between two central administrative bodies:
KMC Jurisdiction: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation will handle the rehabilitation of 106 major arterial roads, primarily those carrying high daily traffic volumes.
Provincial/Town Level: The remaining 453 internal roads will be restored under the World Bank-funded CLICK (Competitive and Livable City of Karachi) project, focusing on neighborhood and secondary road networks.
Repairs by District (The Priority List)
The government has allocated the workload based on the severity of damage recorded in 2025. Here is how the districts stack up:
|
District |
Number of Roads for Repair |
|
District East |
138 |
|
Malir |
93 |
|
District Central |
50 |
|
District South |
27 |
|
Keamari |
27 |
| Korangi |
15 |
Rs. 25 Billion Budget: More Than Just Patchwork?
The biggest criticism of Karachi’s roadwork has always been the “patchwork” culture, laying thin asphalt that vanishes after a single thunderstorm. For 2025, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has issued a specific mandate: Drainage must be built simultaneously with the roads.
This integrated approach aims to ensure that the 60 major routes being reconstructed aren’t just smooth, but also rain-proof.
Traffic Signals and Mega Project Updates
It’s not just about the surface. The restoration plan includes:
Upgrading 45 existing traffic signals and installing 31 brand-new ones to ease the gridlock on Maripur Road and other high-volume routes.
University Road Diversion: The 2.7km diversion near Urdu College (Red Line BRT) is nearing completion, aiming to reduce the nightmare commute for Gulshan residents.
Korangi Causeway: The elevated, flood-proof bridge is expected to be fully operational by early 2026, finally ending the seasonal isolation of Korangi.
So, Will it Last?
While a Rs. 25 billion injection is precisely what the city needs, the real test lies in transparency and execution. In 2025 alone, Karachi recorded over 170mm of rain in a single spell, proving that asphalt alone cannot survive without a functional sewage and stormwater system.
If the government sticks to the plan to build integrated drains, our cars might finally survive a monsoon season without a trip to the workshop for a complete suspension overhaul.
What do you think? Will this massive survey and budget finally fix Karachi’s “off-road” urban experience, or will the next rain wash it all away?
